A SRI Lankan restaurant and pizza business are the latest street food vendors to be announced for the soon to open Darley Street Market.
The market will finally open on July 12, and will included a food court as well as traditional food and non-food market stalls.
One of the new businesses in the food court will be Ayubowan – a Sri Lankan food business established in 2013. It currently has restaurants in Glossop and Halifax, as well as a street food stall in Sheffield.
The other vendor announced for the food court is Pizzeria Il Forno – the new venture from the team behind popular pizza restaurant La Caverna in Sunbridgewells.
The vendors will join previously announced Bab Tooma Syrian restaurant and Northern Monk brewery, which will run the bar in the market.
Fresh food vendors announced this week are North Country Cheeses, which source and stock locally-produced Yorkshire and international cheeses, and The Olive Branch, which will sell fresh olives sourced from Turkey and Greece. It will be run by Amin Soltani, who has traded in local outdoor markets for many years.
Ayubowan owners Graham Pickersgill and Madusha Wettasinghe said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ayubowan Street Food to Darley Street Market as part of Bradford’s city centre revitalisation.
“As the city celebrates its status as UK City of Culture, there’s never been a better time to be part of this vibrant transformation.
“Our mission has always been to share the bold, authentic flavours of Sri Lanka with the community, and we’re proud to join a space that celebrates diversity, creativity, and cultural pride at the heart of Bradford.”
Simo Alrababa, owner of Pizzeria Il Forno, said: “When I first heard of the plans for the street kitchen in the new market, I was really pleased that it had a focus on popular global cuisines. I don’t know a single person who is not fond of authentic Italian pizza, so I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed for us.
“The idea of street food, fresh food and events, all under one roof was very appealing to me.
“Darley Street Market will be brilliant for Bradford city centre, we want to be involved in events and live music on the courtyard and street kitchen, it is a very exciting time to be opening another outlet in Bradford during our year as UK City of Culture 2025.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: “These latest announcements will add to the wide array of fresh flavours from across the globe offering street food from among others Mexico, Greece, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Syria and Italy, alongside the juiciest burgers and dirtiest fries.
“There really will be something new for everyone to try.”
