Rhyl’s Queen’s Market complete but unlikely to open without operator

The development, in Rhyl’s town centre, will comprise a number of food kiosks – with a central “food hall” to eat - and retail and events space once it is up and running.

On Wednesday (June 5), the Journal visited the Queen’s Market along with Julie James MS, cabinet secretary for housing, local government and planning, and numerous representatives of Denbighshire County Council.

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Drone pictures show progress at Queen's Market development in Rhyl

Rhyl's new £12m Queen's Market: Still no operator in sight

Queen's Market development in Rhyl left without an operator

Outside the Queen's Market (Image: Newsquest)

Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group had previously been awarded the contract to be the venue’s operator, only for this to fall through late last year.

It is understood that the council is in discussions with numerous potential operators, and would prefer to wait until one is secured before opening the Queen’s Market.

While the Queen’s Market could be run by the council itself, its preference is to appoint an operator with greater expertise in leading such developments.

The building’s interior is complete, but external areas are not yet fully developed, while its food kiosks are still be fitted with all of the necessary kitchen equipment.

Areas which will be filled by some of the food kiosks at the Queen's Market (Image: Newsquest)

Its events space, meanwhile, is seen as a potential venue for community events, pop-up markets, concerts or an ice rink, to name a few examples.

Approximately 50 full-time jobs could also be created through the opening of the Queen’s Market.

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction oversaw the designing and construction of the Queen’s Market.

The scheme also includes the refurbishment of the Queen’s Chambers, off Sussex Street.

Julie James visits the Queen's Market (Image: Welsh Government)

Ms James, who is also visiting Conwy, Flintshire and Anglesey, this week said: “This has had about £6m of Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns funding put into it, so it’s really great to see it.

“It’s about footfall, and making sure Rhyl attracts visitors and people who live in the surrounding area into it for shopping and recreation.

“The offer of town centres has to change; it used to be all about retail, and now it’s much more about being a destination.

“This kind of building, with small food outlets offering lots of different things from the local area, will bring in people, who can then spill out into the shops.

The events space at the Queen's Market (Image: Newsquest)

“I think it’s a really good space, and I hope they can find somebody with good experience of running this kind of thing. Towns are successful when they have a really good mix of things on offer.

“We’ve seen these elsewhere in Wales. I went to one in Llandeilo the other day which has very similar concept and which has just started, and that’s brought a huge number of people in who wouldn’t have come otherwise.

“The one in Newport that we went to see has been transformational; it’s in what was a derelict part of town and has completely transformed it.”