Mercato Metropolitano’s Elephant & Castle food hall in South London has confirmed it will stay open and continue operating until the end of 2026.
In March, it was announced that the site is set for redevelopment after Southwark Council approved the Borough Triangle building project.
The plan will see construction firm Berkeley Group build 44-storey and 38-storey towers on the site, providing nearly 900 new homes.
The development will also include an office block, a café or retail space, and a new community centre.
A portion of the site is home to Mercato Metropolitano’s original London food hall, which has been operating since 2016.
Dee Salih, director of brand and marketing at Mercato Metropolitano, said: “Despite recent incorrect speculation, the market is open, thriving and we have lots more exciting things to look forward to in 2026.”
The once-abandoned paper factory now hosts street food vendors such as Fresco Pizzeria Napoletana, Hermanos Tacos, Argentinean Grill, and Himalayan Dumplings.
As part of the Borough Triangle development, a new food hall will be created, with Berkeley offering Mercato Metropolitano’s current traders the first right of application.
The developer is also providing a £200,000 relocation fund for the remaining traders, along with £40,000 for an independent business adviser to assist them through the relocation process.
Mercato Metropolitano stated it will share further updates on the site’s future early next year.
Construction on the Borough Triangle development is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion expected by 2034.
Mercato Metropolitano handed over the lease of the Elephant & Castle site to a third party in December last year.
The food hall operator opened a location in Ilford, East London, in July 2024, though it has since temporarily closed. It also operates food halls in Mayfair and Canary Wharf.
