Retford Buttermarket Food Hall Operator - Tender Opportunity

Bassetlaw District Council invites tenders from experienced operators to manage an indoor street food market in the Buttermarket at Retford Town Hall. The successful operator will be responsible for vendor management, commercial performance, and all operational aspects in exchange for trading rights and involvement in the space's final design and fit-out. Key Objectives: • Animate and activate Retford town centre • Support independent and start-up food businesses • Provide high-quality, diverse, and affordable food offerings • Increase footfall and dwell time • Support the evening and weekend economy • Deliver social and economic value to the local area Location & Market Opportunity: The Buttermarket occupies approximately 260m² on the ground floor of Retford Town Hall with independent access from Town Hall Yard and Market Square. The town has a total market potential of £122.1 million with a 16% catchment market share. The catering sector alone represents £30.1 million in potential, with annual household spend on catering at £2,060 (5% below regional average), indicating significant untapped demand. Terms: • Anticipated operational start: Winter 2026/Spring 2027 • Lease term: 5 years with Year 3 break clause and optional 5-year extension (3+2+5 structure) • Successful bidder will partner in the design process during construction phase Procurement Process: This is a competitive flexible procedure. Initial tenders are evaluated on price and quality criteria. Up to three top bidders advance to a presentation stage. Final scoring combines price and quality scores (90%) with presentation scores (10%).