The new food and drink traders at Freight Island’s Ticket Hall

The huge space now houses 10 food traders and five bars

The easing of restrictions this week saw the reopening of the much anticipated Ticket Hall at Escape to Freight Island – the cavernous interior of the Mayfield depot.

The Ticket Hall originally opened at the end of October last year for just a few days before it was forced to close in the second UK lockdown in November.

Alongside the existing food operators Baratxuri, Madre Tacos, Voodoo Rays, Patty Queen and KRUM, the space now houses five new food traders and a total of five bars, as well as plenty of seating and a stage.

The first new food trader to open with the Ticket Hall is Belzan Pasta Kitchen whose original restaurant opened in Liverpool four years ago. Fusing Italian recipes seasonal with British produce, the monthly changing menu of pasta dishes and small plates at Freight Island focuses on locality and seasonality.

Belzan Pasta Kitchen

This month’s menu includes 12-hour lamb ragu with papperdelle, Braised ‘nduja rigatoni and Mushroom and truffle fazoletti with cured yolk. Small plates include deep fried rabbit with salsa verde, burrata with raspberry vinegar and bone marrow topped with pesto and pickled fennel.

The plates are uncomplicated, beautifully crafted and delicious.

Bone marrow from Belzan Pasta Kitchen

Authentic Vietnamese food has now come to Freight Island too with the arrival of Northenden favourite Mi and Pho.

The menu includes traditional Pho, summer rolls, salads, salt and pepper chicken wings, crispy squid and more.

Summer rolls from Mi and Pho

Next, Maison Breizh is serving a slice of Brittany with a menu of savoury and sweet galettes and crepes. The toppings include regional produce from across North West England including Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire curds, smoked ham and free range eggs from Cheshire.

Dessert crepes include crepe beurre (just Breton salted butter), salted caramel, caramelised banana and melting shards of chocolate.

Serving ‘delicious food that just happens to be vegan’ is Plant Grill, from the brains behind Firebird Hope and KRUM.

Plant Grill

There’s a spicy fried tofu ‘pinger’ burger with kimchi and ‘pinger’ mayo, celeriac shawarma, crispy charlotte potatoes and black cardamom gravy.

A new low intervention bistrot, Forever Changes is serving speciality wine and small plates with an 100 bottle strong wine list and a menu of artisan cheeses, meats, bread, olives and small plates.

Cocktails from The Jane Eyre

Upstairs, in their mezzanine bar is The Jane Eyre cocktail bar serving classic and signature cocktails. There’s also a Pomona Island craft beer bar and a Koppaberg bar.

The Ticket Hall has greatly increased the capacity at Freight Island which has tables available to book for both its indoor and outdoor spaces.

To book a table, click here.

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