Oldham Egyptian Room food hall nominated for RIBA award

Oldham's Egyptian Room food hall has been nominated for a prestigious regional architecture award, putting the town's £2.3m restoration project in the spotlight. The venue, which opened in November 2024 inside the historic Old Town Hall, is one of ten buildings shortlisted for the RIBA North West Awards 2026.

The transformation has turned the Grade II-listed building's former council chambers into a vibrant food hall with seven independent traders serving everything from bao buns to craft beer. Council leader Arooj Shah said the nomination recognises 'the vision, partnership and hard work that has gone into bringing this historic building back to life'.

The Egyptian Room faces stiff competition from across the region, including Rochdale Town Hall, which also reopened last year after a £24m restoration. Both buildings represent major investments in heritage assets that had fallen into disrepair.

A regional jury will now visit all nominated projects before announcing the winner in spring. The victor will automatically be considered for both the RIBA North West Special Awards and the national RIBA Awards, potentially putting Oldham on the architectural map alongside Manchester and Liverpool.

For residents, the nomination validates the council's regeneration strategy of breathing new life into historic buildings rather than demolishing them. The food hall has already become a popular gathering spot, creating jobs and drawing visitors to the town centre on evenings and weekends.