A two-day sell out music festival this weekend heralds the launch of Croydon’s new Boxpark pop-up food and drink mall, which opens its doors on Monday.
As well as the launch festival, which features some of the biggest names in grime including Wiley, Ghetts and Novelist, a party to introduce the Boxpark traders to Croydon was held this week in the run up to the opening.
Boxpark teamed up with the council, and Schroders and Stanhope PLC to bring the exciting venture to Croydon. It forms part of the council’s plans to help transform the borough, bringing growth, new jobs and prosperity. It will also boost the evening economy and support the council’s cultural ambitions to support emerging local talent.
The unique development which is constructed entirely from shipping containers, is located in the heart of borough, right next to East Croydon station, which serves some two million people every year.
More than 30 food traders, including Croydon’s Wine and Deli, Cronx Brewery and Yumn Brasserie, will operate out of the stripped and refitted containers, arranged around a covered courtyard. The space has a capacity of 2,000 and will provide a centre point for regular events, and performances, drawing even more visitors to the town centre.
Croydon Council’s Croydon Works scheme has also helped 41 local people secure jobs at the venue.
Boxpark Croydon is an exciting sign of the progress and regeneration that is happening in the borough and the continued transformation of the quality of leisure on offer in the town centre.
Its opening coincides with £30m refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls, which is due to re-open in summer 2018 and the £1.4bn redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre by the Croydon Partnership.
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
“Boxpark’s arrival is fantastic for Croydon and its residents. As well as new jobs, the council’s partnership has bought 34 exciting new businesses to the heart of the Croydon, while enhancing nightlife and boosting the borough’s evening and night time economy.
“It’s excellent location makes it the perfect stop-off point for those travelling through East Croydon station and the quality and variety of dining on offer will attract people from across south London looking for somewhere with alternative offerings to eat or drink.
“Croydon is evolving and the opening of Boxpark is an important milestone in the borough’s regeneration, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be living in, working in and visiting Croydon.”
Founder and Director of Boxpark, Roger Wade, added: “I would like to thank Croydon Council, Schroders, GLA and most importantly the local Croydon community for their support. I was born and bred in south London, and it’s great to bring a world class development to my home turf. We are not building this in Croydon, we are building for Croydon.”
Jason Margrave, Director at Stanhope, said: “We are delighted to see the opening of Boxpark at Ruskin Square. This is a significant milestone for our development and it brings an exciting new dimension to the continued regeneration of this important site.
“We hope that the range of restaurants and the vibrant events venue offers a flavour of the retail and public space we will be creating as part of the wider 2 million square foot development of Ruskin Square.”
