Food court type eating establishments

[AY1975]

There have already been a number of threads on here about various types of eating and drinking establishments such as greasy spoon cafés and fish & chip shops. One type of outlet that I don't think has been discussed on here is food court type places.

These consist of a number of outlets selling different types of food under one roof and one seating area for people consuming food and drink from any of those outlets. They were common in shopping centres, airports and some major railway stations in the late 1980s and 1990s. For example Euston station had one at that time, and so did the Waverley Market shopping centre adjacent to Edinburgh Waverley station.

They are also found in many shopping centres today, and in recent years they have been springing up in many high streets and city centres. For example there is a food court type place called Kommune in Sheffield city centre, which has a number of street food type outlets and a bar so you can get food from one of the food vendors and a drink from the bar to go with it.

 

[RailWonderer]

I grew up in a place not far from Century City in ZA, which had a giant food court seen here. Only the Trafford centre comes close but both were built funnily enough at the same time. Many great places for fish, meat, fast food with TV showing sports live.

 

[jfollows]

I like the idea in principle, but the implementation in shopping centres had been pretty universally dire, with the food outlets being the same old tired chains. However there are a number of newer places which seem to be about having a choice of food from a variety of (generally) independent and unique vendors with a common seating area, which seems to me to be a good match for an informal meal with one of my fussy friends who can therefore choose to buy and eat something "unexciting" in my world whereas I can get the devilled goat kidneys with frog legs or whatever. So I like the new idea, but I haven't really experimented with it since Covid happened, I need to start getting out more again ......

 

[JamesT]

I like the idea in principle, but the implementation in shopping centres had been pretty universally dire, with the food outlets being the same old tired chains. However there are a number of newer places which seem to be about having a choice of food from a variety of (generally) independent and unique vendors with a common seating area, which seems to me to be a good match for an informal meal with one of my fussy friends who can therefore choose to buy and eat something "unexciting" in my world whereas I can get the devilled goat kidneys with frog legs or whatever. So I like the new idea, but I haven't really experimented with it since Covid happened, I need to start getting out more again ......

The food court in the revamped Westgate shopping centre in Oxford seems like this newer type, the stands aren't recognisable brands. However it's a bit dingy and tucked away so never seems to be busy. Also the food is extortionately priced, £18 for burger, chips, and a cider.