Middlesbrough Town Hall teams up with popular food market to launch new venture

This month is set to see the launch of Middlesbrough Town Hall’s new Orange Pip Kitchen.

As part of the Town Hall’s ambition to become a ‘town hall for the 21st century’, Orange Pip Kitchen will support some of the region’s best independent chefs, cooks and food creatives by opening up the kitchen for three-month residencies.

Now, the Kitchen’s first residents have been announced as The Waiting Room - Luke Harding’s award-winning, vegetarian restaurant in Eaglescliffe.

Keren Pearson, commercial events manager for Middlesbrough Town Hall, said: “We are thrilled to launch our first kitchen residency with The Waiting Room.

“Orange Pip Kitchen will provide a unique platform for aspiring chefs and foodies at all stages in their career; developing and experimenting with innovative menus that push creative boundaries.

“There is a wealth of talented chefs and street food entrepreneurs in Middlesbrough, working towards opening their own restaurants. This venture will allow us to support those burgeoning businesses whilst providing an exciting and diverse offer to the public.”

With the monthly Orange Pip Market proving a hit with residents and visitors alike, with its artisanal street food, Middlesbrough Town Hall hope to bring some of the Orange Pip magic to the Orange Pip Kitchen.

Orange Pip Kitchen’s first resident, The Waiting Room, has been serving vegetarian meals for 33 years, using fresh vegetables, wholefoods and organic dairy. Harding also created a new, community café for mima, The Smeltery, which he runs with his partner, Emma Trotter, and their team.

Luke Harding added: “We’re honoured to be the Town Hall’s first kitchen-in-residence, and we’re looking forward to working with the great team at the Town Hall and its promoters.

“The rolling residency is a great initiative, and we’re thrilled and honoured to be the first residents for the new Town Hall’s opening months.

“We have contributed to many large-scale community food events over the years; we’re looking forward to doing even more on Centre Square!”

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