A restaurateur says transforming Southport Market into a new food, drink and events hub will bring an exciting new ‘cosmopolitan vibe’ to Southport town centre.
Paulo Teixeira runs the thriving Twelve restaurant on Princes Street, described as ‘a fusion kitchen fine dining experience’, which is currently rated by diners as the third best out of 243 in Southport.
Earlier this month he opened his new Paulo No Mercado street food venture inside Southport Market.
He describes it as somewhere where diners can feel at home having a morning coffee from pasteis de nata to the best salt & pepper dishes to Wagyu burgers to enjoy with lunchtime drinks in a friendly environment.
He is very excited by the changes ahead, with exciting plans to transform Southport Market due to be presented to Sefton Council’s Cabinet meeting next week (Thursday, September 3).
The report will recommend the £1.4 million redesign and refurbishment of the town centre market site, creating a modern food and drinks space, along with a flexible events and market area. Southport Town Deal last month provided £900,000 towards the project.
Paulo said: “People we have spoken with are loving the idea.
“Our place is doing well and it is good to hear that a lot of good things are being planned.
“It is very exciting, making this area a place to go. I can’t wait to be part of something so big and important and part of this amazing town.

“The new plans are bringing to Southport not just an indoor market but an open space and outdoors area too, something better than any other market around. This is a food outlet that would attract a lot of people to the area.
“The new Southport Market will bring a totally different cosmopolitan vibe to this area, and will make my restaurant and the surrounding area a great place to eat and hang out.
“Times are changing and we all want this to work.”
Sefton Council’s Cabinet meeting on September 3 will recommend the £1.4 million redesign and refurbishment of the town centre market site, creating a modern food and drinks space, along with a flexible events and market area.
The new look market will be an all year round attraction with space for up to eight food and drinks units, providing a vital boost to the local economy and continued regeneration of Southport’s Market Quarter and King Street.
Units will also be available for fresh produce stalls, including the popular Blackhurst Butchers, which has been operating in the market for nearly 50 years.
All traders will be offered turnover rental agreements to ensure low risk to their business.
Funding for the project has already been successfully secured from both the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Southport Town Deal acceleration fund.
If the plans are approved by Cabinet, it is hoped work will begin on the project in late 2020.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We know just how much of an important asset Southport Market is to the town.
This ambitious and exciting project is a cornerstone of what the Southport Town Deal is all about and securing additional external funding to completely transform the building shows real commitment from Sefton Council.
“This project will create fantastic opportunities for new business start-ups and job creation, and we have shown our full commitment to helping these businesses to grow by implementing a turnover rental model.
“We are extremely excited to see the project progress even further and we have been delighted at the wealth of positive feedback and support we have received from residents and businesses so far for this transformation.”
Due to an already high demand from prospective new food operators and fresh produce businesses, all potential traders should contact tourism@sefton.gov.uk to find out more information.
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