Inverness Victorian Market set to breathe new life into centre of the Highland capital

Inverness's Victorian Market Hall development is progressing well and when it opens next year it is expected to breathe new life into the centre of the Highland capital.

The re-development work initially started in January 2021 and is due to be complete in the first half of 2022.

It has been designed to attract local independent food & drink businesses to create an exciting destination in the heart of Inverness city centre.

The Victorian Market is already home to 21 well established and loved local businesses. The new Market Hall development will bring added footfall to the area and hopes to attract families and to enhance the visitor experience.

Victorian Market Manager, Jo Murray, said: "We expected to find some interesting things at demolition stage of the build, and we were not disappointed. Following the last major piece of work done in 1967 we found a message in a bottle from a proud workman.

"In an empty quarter bottle of vodka, neatly buried underneath the floor, was a note written by J. T. T. Thomson, a mason from Shetland. The note reads “J. T. T. Thomson. Mason. Murness, Uyeasound, Unst, Shetland. Inverness address 40 Deny St. Age 41. Finished building and tiling 20.6.67”."

As the space has been transformed it has revealed the impressive Victorian steel roof structure. The new design allows for it to be more visible and indeed some sections of the steel will now be seen in some of the new units at eye level.

Chair of the Victorian Market Stakeholder Group, Cllr Isabelle Mackenzie, said: "This exciting new development is proceeding as planned. We have been in discussion with a variety of local businesses, who are keen to be part of this beloved city centre landmark.

"Having come through the difficulties of the last couple years, its encouraging to see so many local businesses confident to be at the heart of the rejuvenation of our city centre. We very much look forward to working in collaboration with them, to make the Market Hall a success that Inverness will be proud of."

Councillor MacKenzie also said she was delighted that the Victorian Market was just one of a number of exciting Inverness tourist attractions, including the Inverness Castle Project, and believes it is creating a "ripple effect of positive investment," which will breathe new life into the city as a whole.

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