ANDREW BATCHELOR: The new Dundee street food market is going to be a huge game changer

The new market will be at the old mill on Brown Street (Picture: LJRH Architects)

Since sharing the news that Dundee’s new street food market on Brown Street has been approved, the reaction has been huge.

Excitement has been building quickly, and I genuinely cannot wait to see this project brought to life.

LJRH Architects confirmed yesterday, that planning permission has been granted, meaning a long-disused mill on Brown Street will soon begin its transformation into a lively, modern food hall.

What has been interesting - but not surprising - is that the debate about the location has flared up again. In fact, this discussion started well before planning permission was granted.

During the pre approval stage, many people were already saying the Keiller Centre would be a better fit. That conversation has simply carried on now that the plans have officially been approved.

I understand why the Keiller Centre seems like an obvious suggestion: it is in the heart of the city centre and has plenty of space that is currently underused.

Brown Street is an ideal place

However, that does not mean Brown Street is a bad choice. Far from it. Brown Street sits only a short walk from the Perth Road, one of the busiest and most vibrant areas in Dundee.

The cafés, restaurants and bars along the Perth Road are consistently packed, showing clearly that footfall in that part of the city is strong.

The claim that Brown Street is “too far” from the city centre just does not stack up when it is barely a few minutes from the Nethergate and West Marketgait. And it’s also close to the university campus and it gives great opportunity for Verdant Works too.

The inevitable half glass empty comments

Within an hour of reporting the news, the familiar wave of negativity appeared. There were comments insisting that the food market “won’t be viable” or that it is destined to fail before it begins.

While people are entitled to their opinions, it becomes tiring when the same predictions are made about every new development in Dundee. And, quite often, these predictions are wrong.

The V&A Dundee and WildShore Dundee, for example, were both criticised, called white elephants before opening, yet both are still here and continue to attract visitors.

Some of the most recent comments have honestly been baffling.

People insisting it will “create a mess” because of litter, despite the fact that street food markets operate cleanly and safely in cities all over the world with others complaining that there is already enough food places and that we should focus on reopening empty units.

This kind of response is just unbelievable. It adds nothing to the conversation. It’s unneeded negativity, and to be completely honest, it often feels like ragebait from people who don’t even follow Dundee Culture or engage with what’s happening in the city.

Another thing that frustrates me is the double standard. Many people point to successful food markets in other cities - Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester - and talk about how great they are.

But when Dundee finally gets something similar, suddenly the assumption is that it will fail because it is in Dundee. It is honestly baffling.

And, as usual, the loudest negativity often comes from people who do not follow Dundee Culture or engage with what is actually happening in the city.

An exciting project that will change Dundee

Instead of dismissing the project before it starts, people should see it for what it is: an exciting opportunity.

This street food market has the potential to become a major asset for Dundee, offering a space for street food traders, small businesses and creative food entrepreneurs to thrive.

It will draw people into the area, add energy to the surrounding streets, and help strengthen Dundee’s growing food scene.

Personally, I believe this could become Dundee’s answer to Toronto’s St Lawrence Market - a historic building reinvented as a bustling food and cultural hub.

Food markets around the world succeed because they bring people together, celebrate local talent and create experiences that people return to again and again. Dundee is more than capable of achieving the same.

The growth of Dundee’s food culture over the last decade has been incredible to watch. From independent cafés to street food pop ups and new restaurants, the city’s culinary scene has evolved quickly. A dedicated food hall feels like the natural next chapter in that story.

This is more than a redevelopment - it is a statement that Dundee is continuing to grow, adapt and aim higher. Instead of writing it off before it even opens, we should be supporting it and looking forward to what it can become.

Given the right backing, the Mill Market Food Hall could be one of the most exciting additions Dundee has seen in years.