A BRAND new market and food-hall with stunning views over the Mersey is set to open in spring.

Woodside Ferry Village will take influence from both Liverpool’s nearby Baltic Market and Trafford’s Altrincham Market, and the people behind it have released exciting artist’s impressions showing exactly how the development could look.

It’s set to be based at the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead – and will see seven food vendors and a bar inside the building, with shipping containers housing pop-up shops and businesses outside.

Works are at the planning stage, with the venue hoped to be a major visitor attraction offering a combination of music, food, art and education, utilising the rail, bus and ferry transport links on offer.

As well as the Baltic Market at Cains Brewery and Altrincham’s award-winning site, other cosmopolitan influences for the concept include Lisbon and Barcelona.

Sharon Stanton, interim managing director at the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, said it was a “totally different concept” to what has been there before, and hopes to fully open in May.

She said: “We have been looking at it for some time. We applied for the lease, and luckily enough, we got it and it went from there.

“It’s at the planning stage but we’ve already got several interested vendors – all independent, no brands.

“It’s really exciting. Over the next eight to 10 weeks, renovations will all be starting.”

She said the idea will sit alongside the wider £1bn Wirral Growth Company plans for Birkenhead, but that regeneration has already started in the area, with the Woodside Drive-In Cinema.

She added: “I think there are a lot of good restaurants on the Wirral, but not a lot in this area at the moment if I am honest. West Wirral is saturated with them, but not Birkenhead.

“We will be sitting on the very edge of the Mersey with arguably the best views in the world, so we are now looking at how we can create a destination.”

Ms Stanton said she hoped the venue will appeal to a mixed, diverse range of ages – from young families to lads’ nights out, with potential opening hours from 8am until 11pm on weekends and slightly earlier in the week.

The identity of food vendors has not yet been decided, but she said offers in the food hall would include a range of choices such as pizza, fish and chips, Indian, ice cream and a healthier range such as wraps and salads.

It’s also hoped a number of special events will be held each year, including a guitar festival.

In terms of the shipping containers, they will be located outside the terminal building, and filled with pop-up businesses that may be offered “support and concessions” as an incentive to open there.

She added: “It’s just an absolutely amazing opportunity. This will be different to anything Wirral has seen before. It’s a catalyst for regeneration in this area – from Hamilton Square to Birkenhead to Woodside.”

A spokesperson on behalf of the Woodside Area Community Interest Company (WACIC) said: “Wirral has enjoyed a fantastic period of growth whereby it has firmly established itself as a destination in the North West.

“Through the introduction of the Woodside Ferry Village we look forward to creating a concept that will offer both our community and visitors alike the opportunity to experience the diversity and welcoming atmosphere that Wirral is so renowned for.”