Not only is the Flower Market getting some TLC this week but St. Andrew’s Church on Suffolk Street is set to be transformed into a landmark food hall called Manifesto Market.

The Irish Times has reported that St. Andrew’s Church, dating back to 1860, is about to get a makeover. The property, previously owned by Fáilte Ireland, was just a tourist information centre. The currently barren space will become a multipurpose hangout and cultural extravaganza space. It’s like the second coming of the Epicurean food hall, and we’re all converts. By the first half of 2025, we’ll all be worshipping at the altar of gastronomy.

There was an original plan for something similar with the Michael JF Wright Hospitality Group in 2018 but it didn’t come to fruition. This one looks set to actually happen. The lease has officially been signed according to The Irish Times

The new venture should create about 250 jobs in hospitality and management. Manifesto Market is the brainchild of Martin Barry and his partner-in-crime Hollie Lin. The duo have a solid track record for this sort of thing. They’ve been spreading their foodie gospel in Prague and Berlin, even boasting about having “Europe’s largest food hall.” Berlin’s Manifesto Market is so big it could host a food Olympics, with over 20 food vendors, a beer tower, bar, and wine room sprawling across 4,400 square meters.

The Dublin edition will have room for a delicious dozen food vendors. They’re currently on the hunt for chefs and restaurateurs who want to jump on this gastronomic rollercoaster. According to the Irish Times they’re looking for a mix of “small and medium independent chefs, restaurateurs and operators” and a mix of “first-time businesses with novel concepts, as well as established chefs with fine dining experience”. Manifesto Market will also feature film screenings, art exhibitions, cookery classes – they’re turning this place into a cultural playground.

Architects Dan Daye and Colin McCabe, along with the in-house architects of the Martin Barry Group, are designing this project.

Martin Barry sums it up best, “We specialize in taking on challenging sites and making them magnets to bring people together to enjoy good food across cultures and generations.”

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