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What does all this mean? Well, if you subscribe to
the view that people make places, there are now people
visiting this area that would not have done so before –
families, couples of all ages and groups of friends – these
people would very simply have had a dark spot for this area
in their mental map of London and they no longer do so.
This is a very important factor for Elephant and Castle,
and all the development that is going on there – now
people will have their memories of the television footage
of the dystopia of the Heygate Estate replaced by one of
London’s most attractive new offerings.
While Mercato Metropolitano will not be there forever,
while it is there, it will have a significant effect on the per-
ception of this location by the wider population of London.
L
aunched in September, Mercato Metropolitano is such
an environment, situated in 45,000 square feet of
the buildings and grounds of an old paper factory in the
(currently) very unlovely stretch of Newington Causeway.
It is best described as a fusion of the best aspects of
the covered food halls in Brixton and the food quality and
excitement of Borough, with a real community aspect
(there is a brilliant cinema where you push your way
through a jungle before watching Pirates of The Caribbean
– possibly not accompanied by your Mum and Dad who
are instead drinking amazing Italian wine in the courtyard).
As its name suggests, it is also reminiscent of Eataly in
Manhattan, in that the vast majority of the food and drink
on offer is Italian. In its own words it “…specialises in small
producers from all over Italy and the UK, with an onsite
bakery, fishmongers, butchers, coffee roasters, pizza chefs,
artisan beer makers, cheesemongers, specialist charcuterie,
a large selection of Italy’s most exciting wines, fruit and
vegetable growers, farmers and, obviously, pasta makers.
All using only the very best ingredients and always keeping
their passion and artisan values at heart”.
As mentioned, Mercato Metropolitano also very much
has the community as its ethos, and this is not just
PR blurb – they mean it. There are numerous ways to
participate in what is going on, whether this by taking
part in the various live music events or the many cooking
courses, which range from fine cuisine for the super
competent to the basics, to very simply “how to read a
label”, or urban gardening.
LONDON DNA
Mercato
Metropolit-
ano also very
much has the
community
as its ethos,
and this is
not just PR
blurb – they
mean it
Mercato Metropolitano food & wine stall
(Image: © Saramontali)
A selection of cheese and charcuterie
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
22
LONDON DNA