The Annexe
A retrofit-led transformation of a historic Smithfield site into a new market, boutique hotel and public realm destination.
Set in the heart of West Smithfield, The Annexe is a landmark restoration, retrofit and regeneration project that will bring new life to a remarkable group of historic market buildings. Once part of Smithfield’s working market infrastructure, the site is being transformed into a new cultural and hospitality destination - combining a new market, boutique hotel and public realm at the centre of one of London’s most important emerging cultural quarters.
Delivered in partnership with the City of London Corporation, Esselco Group and Heatherwick Studio, the project sits alongside the future London Museum and forms part of the wider Smithfield masterplan. At its core, this is a retrofit project in the fullest sense: a careful reworking of existing buildings to support new forms of use, public life and commercial energy, while retaining the character and integrity that make them worth preserving.
At the heart of the site is the historic Fish Market building, designed by Horace Jones in 1886. A rare surviving example of Victorian market architecture, its ironwork, masonry and roof structure reflect Smithfield’s long history as a place of trade, movement and exchange. The ambition for The Annexe is to preserve that architectural character while giving the buildings a new role in city life - one that respects their grit, drama and authenticity rather than smoothing them away. The opportunity at The Annexe is not simply to restore buildings, but to revive some of that spirit too.
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London
The next chapter of The Annexe will begin with a new food market that re-establishes Smithfield as a destination for food, culture and public life. Inspired by the site’s historic identity, the market is imagined not as a recreation of the past, but as a contemporary destination for London - championing independent operators, emerging culinary talent and a curated mix of food experiences that reflect the city’s diversity, creativity and appetite for discovery.
As the first phase of the project, the market will bring renewed energy to the site, creating a place defined by movement, encounter and everyday activity. Designed to feel open, layered and lively, it will combine the character of the historic buildings with a fresh, carefully curated offer that draws people in throughout the day and into the evening. More than a place to eat, it will help establish The Annexe as a vibrant new destination within Smithfield’s evolving cultural quarter.
The second phase will see the Red House and Engine House reimagined through retrofit as a new boutique lifestyle hotel, alongside ground-floor retail, food and beverage, and a landscaped pocket park at the heart of the site. Replacing a disused service area, this new public space will create room for community events, art and live performances, bringing renewed activity into the site throughout the day and evening.
Together, these interventions will help reinforce Smithfield’s role as one of London’s most compelling cultural destinations - a place where heritage is not frozen, but activated. The Annexe shows how retrofit can do more than preserve what already exists. It can unlock new uses, new experiences and new forms of public value, while allowing the historic fabric of a place to continue shaping its future.
By bringing together food, hospitality, public space and heritage-led design, The Annexe will help return a sense of life and movement to Smithfield - bringing back the bustle to one of London’s great historic markets.
