Melton’s Food Enterprise Centre continues to grow with the launch of the Stockyard

The Stockyard at Melton Mowbray Livestock Market was launched on Thursday 21 April, building on Melton’s rich food heritage and reputation as the Rural Capital of Food.

Gillstream, the current market operators, have been working in conjunction with partners including Melton Borough Council to develop the south side of the Livestock Market, in the former livestock sheds. This site has long been a destination for visitors from all over the country since the Market first moved to this location in 1869. 

The Stockyard in Melton Mowbray is part of the Food Enterprise Centre project that aims to reinforce Melton’s identity as a destination of choice for food experience, enterprise, and innovation.

In addition to the fantastic food events hosted throughout the year in collaboration with the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, the Stockyard is already home to a growing number of innovative and award-winning independent producers and provides a space for a diverse range of activities.

The site hosts market traders, onsite production units and an indoor event space in the banqueting suite for weddings and conferences. In addition, there is also a growing number of artisan food and drink manufacturers and retailers at the Stockyard including the multi award winning Round Corner Brewing, Samosa Wallah, Premium Craft Distillers Brentingby Gin and Simply Chocolate alongside butchers, bakers and pork pie makers.

As part of the experience, visitors will be able to enjoy immersive activities such as, taking a behind the scenes tour and tasting sessions at Round Corner Brewing and learning the process of gin making or gin creation sessions at Brentingby Gin Distillery’s Fur & Feather bar in the old poultry shed.

Cllr Rob Bindloss, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity at Melton Borough Council said “The Stockyard will create a unique hub of activity for food and drink production, consumption, retail and experiences. A place where people get together to understand, share, make and experience food and drink products in an innovative and sustainable way. 

This unique position and potential of the ‘Rural Capital of Food’ brand benefits all sectors of Melton’s economy, including the high street by developing a connected network of ‘Centres for Excellence’ that operate across several complimentary locations in the town centre, the High Street, SMB College, the Livestock Market and further out into the borough, promoting food enterprise, food innovation and food experience across Melton”

The site will continue to expand, welcoming new businesses to call the Stockyard home, starting with smoked food producer Feast and the Furious who will be opening a unit during 2022.

Jon Oakes, owner of Feast and Furious commented “We are really excited to be locating our new smokehouse down at the Stockyard amongst some really passionate award-winning food and drink businesses and are looking forward to enhancing the great food and drink experience on offer at this site.”

Hugh Brown, CEO of Gillstream Markets Ltd, which operates the site, said:

“I am delighted to launch the Stockyard, recognising Melton’s heritage and future as a destination for food and drink lovers nationwide. The Stockyard encompasses many of the existing values and heritage of the site, retaining close links to our local farmers and our weekly livestock sales.  There really is nowhere more ‘farm to fork’, helping provide a unique market atmosphere, while establishing the Stockyard in its own right.”

Further details of the Stockyard can be found on their website: www.stkyard.co.uk

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For more information please contact:

Name:  Laura Hall

Telephone:  01664562971

Email: laura@stkyard.co.uk