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It’s finally official – neither Birmingham nor Bristol are getting the Boxparks that they were promised.
We already knew that Boxpark Birmingham, announced back in 2023, wasn’t going ahead – though it was unclear why. The company’s plans to turn open a food and drinks hall under the Floodgate Street Arches in Digbeth were abandoned back in September. It was originally supposed to open last year.
Boxhall Bristol was also meant to launch in 2025. It was beset by delays, originally due to open on the city’s harbourside two years prior. Then, when there were still no signs of it last year, there was radio silence from the company. Now it’s been confirmed that the Bristol site has been axed, too.
Explaining the reasoning behind abandoning both Bristol and Birmingham, Boxpark CEO Matt Snell (who joined the company last March) told industry publication MCA that he ‘didn’t feel confident in those sites and the whole site selection process’. He said that that neither of the sites were up to scratch because they were not near transport infrastructure, on a busy high street, or near stadia or event spaces.
When it announced the cancellation of Boxpark Birmingham, the company said that it remained ‘committed to bringing Boxpark experiences to new locations in the future’, so watch this space.
For the time being, there is another food hall coming to Digbeth instead. Award-winning food hall operator Blend Family has taken over the historic Custard Factory and plans to open Alfred Works, a venue with 15 kitchens, an outdoor courtyard, social gaming, a kids play area with a sand pit. An opening date is yet to be announced.
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