'I went to the new Boxpark Camden and it's like an outdoor festival'

An outdoor bar and food court which made a name for itself in Shoreditch over a decade ago has opened another branch in one of London's trendiest nightspots. Boxpark Camden takes over the former Buck Street Market on Camden High Street, with kiosks once again open inside shopping containers to give an industrial chic look. The massive venue, which boasts 60 independent traders, held a launch party to much fanfare on Thursday, September 26, with influencers attending en masse to check out the vibe of the new leisure hub.

Passing through an archway brimming with balloons and greeted by waiters with mojitos, it was easy to get into the party spirit. Boxpark Camden has the feel of a pop-up bar at a beach or festival, it's almost entirely al-fresco with just a few canopies over two bar areas and lines of bulbs criss-crossing the layers of scaffolding. It's the closest to what I imagine partying in Pattaya or Phuket would be like... although verified travellers might disagree with me.

The action takes place on three levels - market stalls on the ground floor, with dozens of food kiosks on the first and second floors, and two ample-sized bars, more or less identical, on either side of the top floor. The bars are everything you might expect; the main selling point is you can see everyone thanks to the open-planned layout, including those at the opposite bar. It's a place to see and be seen. But it's the food where Boxpark really delivers...

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And boy, there's plenty to choose from. Just about every world cuisine you can think of has a food stall on one of the two upper floors; Caribbean, Korean, Thai, Malaysian, Italian, and desert shops dedicated to churros, pancakes and 'bubble tea'. There was Yorkshire Burrito - maybe the gem of the second floor - which serves burritos with pastry almost a dead-ringer for Yorkshire puddings, filled with beef (£12), chicken (£11) or cauli cheese (£10). Canapés of this delight went down a storm in the bars.

Nearby was Poptata Street Fries, where you can watch potatoes continually being sliced into a dozen chips, which one server proudly told me are 'the best in London'. It serves everything from a cone of 'naked fries' in salt or Cajun spices (£4.95), to Halloumi fries (£7.95), four other variants of cheese fries, including truffle and honey mustard (all £7.95) and finally, loaded fried (£9.95), with everything from chicken tenders to pulled brisket piled generously on top.

Camden's notorious foodie scene is also served well with Philippe Conticini, famed for the viral giant croissant, joining the likes of Black Bear Burger among the impressive food trader line-up. Boxpark also promises to offer a tailor-made events program, including weekly quizzes, comedy nights, live music and resident DJ sets that celebrate the area's rich musical heritage.

Boxpark Camden will operate seven days a week, and both Fridays and Saturdays will open until 11.30pm. Boxpark acquired the site in April in partnership with Places for London, Transport for London’s property company. The investment has seen many renovations at the site, including new paintwork, flooring, and signage. Although Thursday's launch party was dogged by rainy weather; organisers hope this will be fixed with the addition of a new roof "towards the end of the year".

Ben McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer at Boxpark said: “This has been such an exciting and rewarding challenge for Boxpark so far, and one we cannot wait to see the results of. It’s no secret we have a love of locations beaming with culture and community, and Camden is no different. The iconic town has been a fan-favourite for years, boasting a world of food, music and the arts that is clearly aligned with us.

"We are committed to flying the flag for independent businesses across the country, and this restoration will allow us to continue this in one of the most significant takeovers London will see this year. Following our Liverpool opening earlier this year, this next step for us is just the beginning of our upcoming expansion plans, and we cannot wait to see the response from the Camden community."

Boxpark Camden is open 10am to 11pm on Monday to Thursday, 10am to 11.30pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 10.30pm on Sunday. For more information, see the website HERE.

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