JAKARTA — Entrepreneurs preparing to launch Birmingham’s inaugural fully halal food marketplace say they envision the venue becoming a connector between diverse communities in Britain’s second-largest city.

Jordan Patel, who founded Art Quarter where the new market will operate, noted that despite Birmingham’s well-established reputation for diversity, the city has lacked centrally-located spaces developed and managed by ethnic minority communities.

“There’s a part of me that’s feeling really grateful and blessed that we’re the first, but also I think it’s going to really help with generating footfall into the city,” Patel explained.

The market is scheduled to open its doors in late January.

Building Community Connections

Patel emphasized that the project extends beyond commercial objectives, expressing hopes that it will foster connections across different groups and reduce social divisions within Birmingham’s population.

“I think it’s something we should all be proud of,” he said.

The building housing the food court also features a women-only hair salon designed specifically for clients who wear headscarves. The private space allows women to remove their head coverings comfortably.

“We’ve created this safe space where they can now remove their scarves,” Patel noted. “There’s no windows in, there’s no male staff, there’s no male customers — and they’re getting to have this inclusive experience.”

Vendors See Opportunity for Cultural Representation

Sakib Hussain, whose dessert and brunch concept Kacao will occupy space in the market, represents one of several participating food vendors. Hussain reflected on the significance of the opportunity from a cultural perspective.

“Coming from a south Asian background myself, we don’t push ourselves as much and go for these types of risks,” he acknowledged. “I feel like we’re not given these sorts of opportunities.”

Another vendor, Umar Fayyaz from Kohitayn, plans to offer cuisine blending Japanese and Middle Eastern influences. Fayyaz sees the market’s location as strategically positioned in an already high-traffic area, providing dining options that complement rather than duplicate what’s available at the nearby Bullring shopping center.

“I feel like the pull that we bring to the Muslim community and the non-Muslim community, everyone can experience what we want to offer,” Fayyaz said.

The marketplace represents Birmingham’s first dedicated halal food hall, catering to the city’s substantial Muslim population while welcoming diners from all backgrounds.

Original Article:

BBC. (2026, January 23). City’s first halal food court to open in January.  Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9zk9wyvk2o