North London Food & Culture

OMG! Exclusive shots from inside Camden’s abandoned Stables Market

For years nearly 60,000 square feet has lain empty in the heart of NW1. But that's all set to change

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Ghostly: intended retail space that’s languished for years. All photos: Stephen Emms

Did you know how much of the Stables Market, which cost millions to redevelop back in 2009, has been forgotten – until now?

The former warren of horse tunnels underwent a radical and controversial transformation five years ago, complete with some disliked equine sculptures and a new four-storey steel and glass building. Yet nearly all of it has subsequently remained empty.

Yesterday, new market operations bloke Lee Bennett (of Record Club and the Stillery fame) gave us a tour around the tens of thousands of square feet that, for one reason or another, were never occupied. There are half-built restaurants, vast warehouse-size rooms with great windows, and graffitied stairwells. Many units boast wonderful urban views. And hundreds of retail outlets have never been filled. Take a closer look, here:

Both the Stables market and Hawley Wharf were sold for £400 million to a billionaire Israeli software entrepreneur, Teddy Sagi, earlier this year. And the new team, headed up by Bennett, is determined to restore the market to being a “creative space” again.


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First to go? Those pesky bronze nags; the central Stables area already looks a lot less theme parky without them. Eventually, the plan for all that empty space is a state-of-the-art music museum, studio and academy – but for now it’s up for grabs.

Lee Bennett: ''
Lee Bennett: ‘We want people to come to us with initiatives’. Photo: Stephen Emms

“We’re looking at it as experimental space that can lend itself to the community and start-up businesses,” says Lee. “We hope people will come to us with initiatives, be they local schools, galleries, or trade shows. We want to pursue those routes before making a permanent decision on what should be in there.”

From this November one floor will be brought “back to shell” as a start-up hub for new businesses, with meeting areas, free Wi-Fi, a cafe, and pop-up retail space. Steering it is Camden Town Unlimited, who are behind the Collective projects and put on this year’s inaugural Camden Create festival.

“The other floors will be ready by the middle of next year,” he says, “for things like exhibitions, conventions, vintage fairs, and food festivals.” More immediately, Bennett is also planning a winter market and ice rink on Hawley Wharf, just by Kentish Town Road lock. (Next year he’ll also unveil the Music Walk of Fame – but that’s another story.)

“The aim is for Camden to return to being Camden,” he says. “We’ll create hubs for upcoming designers and musicians, studios and workshops. But above all, we want to encourage locals to come to us with ideas.”

Are you interested in using the empty space? Email kevin@camdenmarket.com

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