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Foodies, set your alarms, because a much-loved street food market in south London is about to make a huge comeback. Lewisham’s Model Market will reopen in the spring, having been closed for the past five years.
Landsec, the developer that owns the area, has announced it will bring back the market as ‘a hub for independent kitchens, local makers and creative spaces’. The market’s return comes amid Landsec’s wider plan to demolish the 1970s-built Lewisham town centre to build 1,700 new homes.
Operating as a street food market since 2014, the hugely popular market closed in 2021 when its operator, Street Feast, collapsed. Before becoming a street food hub, Model Market was a trading site for many small Black-owned businesses dating back to the 1950s.
Despite the nearby impending demolition, Model Market will return to its original building, serving food as well as hosting live events including DJ sets, pop-ups and live music. Its new look will take inspiration from the original 1950s style, with retro shopfronts and string lights.
‘The revived Model Market will serve more than food, it will be a social hub in the heart of Lewisham, delivering DJ sets and genre-spanning music, alongside a host of events, pop-ups and cultural programming that blends food, music and art,’ said Landsec.
‘By honouring the original architecture and preserving the site’s time-worn patina, the market will retain the character and charm that made it iconic while introducing a bold new visual identity.’
A spokesperson for Model Market said: ‘With a nostalgic design inspired by mid-century shopfronts and a commitment to modern, sustainable values, the new Model Market will feel both timeless and completely new – a reimagined street market for a new generation.
‘We want to champion local talent, and whether you’re running a kitchen concept, a small shop, or planning community events, we’d love to hear from brands who want to help shape Lewisham’s next great social space.’
Exact dates aren’t confirmed yet, but Model Market will be returning at some point in the spring of 2026. Applications to be a vendor in the market are currently open online.
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