BRADFORD Council is looking for a company to run the food court of its proposed £21 million city centre market.

The authority is seeking expressions of interest from “a highly skilled operator” who can manage Darley Street Market’s 500 seat food and drinks court.

And an engagement event for would-be operators will take place next month.

The market will be built on the former site of Marks & Spencer on Darley Street, once Bradford’s main shopping street until many businesses re-located to the Broadway Shopping Centre.

It will feature non-food stalls on the ground floor, fresh food stalls on the first floor and a food court featuring 13 “street food” style traders on the third floor.

That food court will also feature a stage for live performances.

There will also be an outdoor “city square” linking Darley Street with Piccadilly.

Bradford's new Darley Street Market will have live music stage, late openings and seating for 500

A release from the Council said: “The successful operator will take an active role in delivering a high quality independent food and drink offer, its marketing and promotional activities as well as the maintenance and cleaning of the space.”

The council will hold an engagement day where officers will provide an overview of the current design of the market and listen to views and suggestions from potential operators.

The market, due to open in Spring 2022, is one of the biggest city centre regeneration projects planned for Bradford since the opening of The Broadway Shopping Centre.

Once the building is open, the Oastler Market will be demolished to make way for a 1,000 home “city village” in the city’s Top of Town area.

Kirkgate Market, the Council run market based in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, will also shut.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Our Darley Street Market is an incredibly important project and it’s crucial we get the food and beverage offer right.

“We are keen to hear from highly experienced competent operators who can ensure this vital element of the project is a success.”

The engagement event will be run on March 25 at 11am.

Any companies wanting more information on the engagement day can contact Bradford.markets@bradford.gov.uk.

Existing market traders will not automatically be transferred to the new market - instead they will have to apply to take one of the stalls.

At a meeting of Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee last week, members were told that traders at the new market will be expected to maintain a five food hygiene rating.