Burslem Market Hall
Next Phase has been working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to support the long-term repositioning of Burslem Market Hall, a Grade II listed building at the heart of one of the city’s six historic towns.
Dating back to 1879, the market hall was once a focal point for trade and community life but has remained closed since 2003 due to structural issues. Following its inclusion on national “at risk” registers and wider recognition of the city’s heritage challenges, the Council is now progressing a multi-million-pound programme of repair works to safeguard the building and bring it back into active use. 
The project forms part of a broader strategy to reinvest in Burslem’s historic assets and re-establish the town centre as a destination. In the short to medium term, the building will accommodate temporary uses, with strong interest already emerging from operators across leisure, hospitality, and events.
Our role is to define the market hall’s long-term future, ensuring it can transition from initial activation into a sustainable and permanent use. This has begun with a programme of public and stakeholder engagement to understand local perceptions, heritage value, and aspirations for the building. Initial public engagement generated. The response was substantial: the survey alone drew 706 responses and more than 3,500 written comments; the drop-in sessions welcomed just under 75 attendees; and the business strand engaged 55 businesses, predominantly small independents within the town centre.
These insights will inform the development of a clear and deliverable concept that responds to Burslem’s identity while establishing a viable commercial model, both in the short to medium term, and looking to the future.
Building on this, Next Phase is developing a comprehensive operational strategy, including identifying the most appropriate management structure and approach to programming and tenant mix. We are also working with AMION Consulting to support the development of a full business case to underpin future funding bids and guide decision-making, ensuring commercial principles are embedded from the outset.
Through this work, the project will move beyond restoration alone, establishing a clear and achievable pathway to bring Burslem Market Hall back into regular, active use as part of the town’s wider regeneration.
