Historic Market Hall Gets Modern Makeover with the Help of Funding
- Nov 18, 2025
- 3 min read
New Mills Market Hall, a street food hall renovated by co-founders of Matt’s Attic, four childhood friends, Matt Eadie, Beth Eadie, Nick Torkington, and Garry Mills, with a dream to turn a historic market hall into a warm and inviting community space.
Funded by Start Up Loans
£25,000 boost towards:
Market hall renovations
Preserving the halls unique character
Major upgrades to electrics, plumbing, and bar infrastructure
Region: High Peak, Derbyshire
What does your business do? And how is it different from competitors?
We are transforming the historic Market Hall in the heart of our hometown, New Mills, into a new street food hall and community space. Think of it as a modern indoor market with independent street food vendors, a creative café-bar, and a rotating calendar of events – from live music and art exhibitions to themed banquets.
What sets us apart is that we’re firmly rooted in the heritage of New Mills. We know the town inside out and many of the people in it, so what we’re creating was born from love of this building, the recognition of its potential, and the desperation to save it from a mundane, non-communal existence.
What inspired you to start your business?
The four of us have been very close friends for a long time. When we saw the Market Hall sitting empty, we started to discuss how it could be turned into a food hall. It’s a place full of childhood memories for us. When the building became vacant, we became concerned that nothing was being done with it and we knew that it could be more than just a food court.
That’s when Matt’s Attic found its real purpose. We also could have not taken on this project without the support and backing of the previous owner, Alan Allison, who gave us the leg up we needed to really turn the place around.
How is your background related to the business?
Each of us brings something unique to the table:
Nick ran a vegan street food empire called The Ottomen, he is well-versed in the street food scene as well as the pitfalls.
Beth runs a branding and design agency and has also been a manager in hospitality.
Matt is an extremely talented joiner, he has years of experience working on all sorts of creative and construction renovations.
Gary is a seasoned electrical engineer who’s helping us modernise the building safely.
Together, we cover everything from compliance and construction to customer experience and community engagement.
What challenges have you faced, and how has the funding helped?
Renovating a historic building is full of surprises, from hidden structural issues to outdated wiring. Balancing costs and preserving the building’s heritage has been tough.
The funding from First Enterprise has gone straight into making the space safe, functional, and welcoming. The loan has been essential in keeping the momentum going and has also helped us create a top-tier venue that meets safety standards while preserving its unique character.
Additional comments from the Founder and our Advisor
“Our experience with First Enterprise has been incredible. They understood our vision from the start. They didn’t just see a risky renovation; they saw the potential of a business that could breathe new life into a town centre. Our Investment Manager, Lottie Naylor, was genuinely supportive, available when we needed advice, and always constructive. It felt like she was part of the team.
We cannot thank Lottie and Michael enough for the many extra miles they went to on our behalf.” Comments Beth Eadie, Co-Founder of Matt’s Attic
“Matt’s Attic and the team behind it are truly an inspiration, bringing their community closer together by creating a space that is welcoming and lively. I could see the wonderful impact this market hall will have from day one, and it was a great pleasure working with the team through the loan application process. I’m excited to see how Matt’s Attic develops and thrives, and I wish them all the best of luck along their journey!” Comments Lottie Naylor, Investment Manager at First Enterprise
First Enterprise is a responsible finance provider offering unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £250,000 to support both start-ups and established businesses across the UK. Since 2011, First Enterprise has lent over £77 million to 7,305 businesses.
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