A new street food market has opened in Bournemouth, providing opportunities for start-ups to flourish.
Helch Market in Gervis Place aims to give opportunities for independent food businesses to launch, by giving them a prime location without the high costs that it would otherwise bring.
The owner, Jamal Benamor, said that the market aims to make risk as low as possible for independent businesses to flourish.
“You don’t get anywhere like this where you can break into the market so easily. There’s nowhere that can provide rent as cheap or give such a good piece of land for the rate that it’s going at,” he said.
“So many shops close because they can’t afford to stay open. It’s hard to stay open as a small business, so giving a space for other small businesses to blossom is very important, I think.
“It’s a street food market, so the aim is to empower small businesses so they can grow beyond what they’d usually be able to get to.”
The market will have three food stands and a bar, serving fresh pasta, fried chicken and fruit crumble. The shop is planning a full launch in January, when all three are up and running.
Aaron, the owner of the Mamma’s Pasta stall within the market, said the opportunity was fantastic for a business starting out.
“The good thing about starting in a place like this is the business rates. Business rates are killing everyone.”
He will be serving fresh pasta, with a range of sauces.
“We’re not doing it too fancy, what their mothers cook at home really,” he said.
Michael, who runs the What the Cluck fried chicken stall, is aiming for freshly made food that will compete against the bigger competitors.
“We’re trying to be really good quality fried chicken. There’s a lot of competition but I do feel that when I go to a lot of places, things are very much premade, they’ve been sitting there for a long time,” he said.
The name of the street food market is inspired by the graffiti artist who tagged bridges across the south with the word ‘Helch’.
“Graffiti artist, street art, street food, that’s the link,” Mr Benamor said.
Mr Benamor has big plans for the site and the area.
“I’d love to open a bigger one, with maybe 12 stalls. So that’s the hope, but it’s such a big project to do.”
Helch are open daily 11am until midnight, and can be found at 3 Gervis Place, BH1 2AL.
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