A delicious new street food destination has opened in Southport town centre.
Paulo no Mercado has just opened at Southport Market, with a frontage facing both King Street and Market Street.
The inspiration behind the new venture came from Twelve restaurant Head Chef and Owner Paulo Teixeira and Restaurant Manager Lee Hall. Twelve restaurant, on nearby Princes Street, is described as ‘a fusion kitchen fine dining experience.
The venue is currently rated the third best out of 243 restaurants in Southport by diners on TripAdvisor.
Seeing a new venture from one of Southport’s top restaurants is a huge coup for the market, which was last week awarded £900,000 through Southport Town Deal funding in a bid to transform it into an exciting new food, drink and events hub.
The name ‘Paulo no Mercado’ translates to ‘Paulo in the Market’.
Paulo and Lee said: “We have dreamed of creating a place where we would feel at home having a morning coffee. From Pasteis de Nata to the best Salt & Pepper dishes to Wagyu burgers to enjoy with lunch time drinks, this is amazing freshly cooked street food in a friendly environment.
“For anyone who loves street food this is the destination to head for the well-travelled crowd seeking a genuine Asian holiday experience right here in Southport.
“Paulo no Mercado opens this week and with a sunny weekend ahead of us it’s definitely worth a visit.”
Paulo’s first customer today said: “Salt and pepper Gambas and Vietnamese Beef Noodles with Asahi lager to wash it down sitting in the sun on Market Street was a great antidote to the lockdown blues.”
Twelve’s expansion into a genuine street food experience comes as plans evolve to transform Southport Market into a social space to enjoy food, drink and markets.
That ambition took one giant step closer to reality last week thanks to £900,000 funding through an Acceleration Grant announcement, part of a £1million grant from central Government’s Town Deal Fund.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “This is a very welcome grant and helps us in our long term vision for Southport.
“We have been working extremely hard on plans for Southport Market as part of our Southport masterplan for some time, recognising how important such a social space would be to the local economic and tourism sector.
“It will bring a market culture experience to the town that some cities across the UK have successfully introduced already and which European towns and cities have become celebrated for. It also continues to show Sefton Council’s commitment to Southport providing further opportunities to support independent businesses.”
Mark Lawler, Managing Director of Baltic Creative and member of the Southport Town Deal Board, said: “We recognise how important this kind of investment can be for giving a kick start for further growth throughout the resort, as well as having the potential to spark further enhancement of the area surrounding the market.
“As a seaside town that is renowned for its great food and drink offer we think that this will be the perfect complement to Southport’s already impressive social offer, which is already recognised for championing independent businesses.”
The Southport Market project business case will now go to Cabinet and Council for approval in September, with a view to ensuring completion of the project by the end of the financial year, in accordance with the conditions of the grant.
For more details about Southport Market, please contact Market Manager Denise Ryder on: Denise.Ryder@sefton.gov.uk
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