Ashton Market Square, located in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester has signed occupiers for eight new permanent F&B and retail traders, following a significant redevelopment funded by Tameside Council.
Once fully launched in the autumn, the square will feature a mix of independent global street food vendors, grab-and-go options and everyday amenities. The eight confirmed occupiers are:
- Oppa Kitchen – Family-run Asian street food kitchen
- Royal Bagel by Danish Bakes – Scandinavian-style baked goods
- Mamma Julie’s – Freshly cooked breakfasts and lunches
- Its.2.say. – Handcrafted gifts and trinkets
- Market Grounds Coffee – Premium coffee specialists
- Naanwich – Kebabs and hot street food
- Wilson’s Fruit and Veg Ltd – Family-run greengrocers
- Alf’s Key and Shoe Repairs – Key cutting and expert shoe and watch repairs
This line-up consists of a mix of businesses opening their first-ever fixed location, first location in Ashton, expanding their footprint within Ashton and existing traders at the market prior to the refurbishment who have recommitted.
Two further kiosks will rotate between different food offers with more details to be revealed soon.
The market square acts as an extension to the popular existing indoor market
The outdoor market square will feature 100,000 sq ft of enhanced public realm and a large-scale canopy housing the permanent kiosks alongside space for around 100 temporary stalls on certain days of the week. Twice the size of Manchester’s Albert Square, Market Square is designed to restore Ashton’s status as a bustling market destination. The public realm will be used as an accessible community space and for year-round events programming.
The transformation is the latest milestone in Tameside’s ambitious £1bn borough-wide regeneration programme to reposition it as one of the UK’s best connected and most investable locations. Backed by a dedicated Growth Unit, the Council has assembled key sites and secured over £130m of public investment to unlock a development pipeline that will deliver over 5,000 new homes, 3,000 new skilled jobs and vibrant, and experience-led town centres designed for modern living.
This includes Tameside Council’s acquisition of the Ladysmith Shopping Centre which completed in May this year. The Ladysmith Shopping Centre overlooks Ashton Market Square and is a key step in the Council’s strategy for a joined-up approach to reshaping the town centre’s retail and leisure offer.
Nicola Elsworth, director of strategic growth at Tameside Council, said: “Today marks an important chapter in Tameside’s regeneration journey, as we are one step closer to realising Ashton’s potential to be a culturally active, community-first, exemplar town centre. Ashton Market has served as a community meeting point for over 700 years, and in restoring that role we believe this will establish Ashton as one of Greater Manchester’s most distinctive town centre destinations.
“The wide range of independent F&B, retail and essential amenities at the market will join our already flourishing SME and start-up business community. We have no doubt that Ashton Market Square will act as a major catalyst for further culture, retail and leisure-led transformation, not least as we progress the redevelopment of the adjacent Grade II-listed Town Hall into a distinctive new cultural landmark.”
Memuna, owner of Royal Bagel by Danish Bakes, said: “This feels like one of the most exciting moments in Ashton’s recent history. Our town’s retail and leisure offer is being reshaped to create a town centre that is completely unique, and Ashton Market Square is the first chapter in that story, with a lot more still to come.
Ashton has so much going for it right now – opportunities for independent businesses to grow, millions being invested into new public spaces, and a creative, tight-knit community that gets behind its town. Being a part of this next chapter is something we’re incredibly proud of. Tameside Council has been instrumental in giving us the support and confidence to turn our ambitions for Royal Bagel by Danish Bakes into a reality and open our first physical bakery.”
In 2024, Andy Burnham established the Ashton Mayoral Development Zone (AMDZ) to drive forward regeneration opportunities across key sites within the zone, including over 1m sq ft of commercial space.
Ashton is located 10 minutes outside central Manchester by train and will be the first town to become integrated within Manchester’s Bee Network, offering seamless travel by bus, train and tram.
