Mission Kitchen
16,000 sq ft kitchen business incubator
Since opening in 2021, Mission Kitchen has established itself as a pioneering food-enterprise hub at New Covent Garden Market, providing shared commercial kitchens, flexible workspace and a curated programme of events that support food entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Architecture 00 led the design and delivery of the project following appointment through an invited tender for this GLA Good Growth Fund supported scheme.
Developed in partnership with Mission Kitchen and the Covent Garden Market Authority, the project demonstrates how thoughtful, socially driven design can foster community, enterprise and long-term value. The 16,000 sqft facility occupies the entire first floor of the Food Exchange building and was designed to provide affordable, flexible workspace that enables start-ups to establish themselves and growing businesses to scale sustainably.
Mission Kitchen offers a diverse mix of shared kitchen space, private studio kitchens, a fully equipped training and development kitchen, a studio kitchen for food photography and videography, and a training restaurant and bar where food and beverage concepts can be tested with the public. These facilities are supported by co-working areas, offices, meeting rooms and hot-desking, alongside a comprehensive programme of business support including mentoring, training courses and regular networking events.
Approximately two thirds of the floorplate is dedicated to food production, with the remaining space accommodating work, learning and event functions. The design incorporates public-facing training and testing spaces, creating additional opportunities for income generation and engagement. The layout carefully balances operational efficiency with adaptability, enabling members to move seamlessly between making, testing, collaborating and presenting. Professional-grade kitchens are fitted with high-spec cooking, refrigeration and extraction equipment, supported by integrated waste management and pot-wash facilities.
Architecture 00
Tricon
Location: New Covent Garden, London
Client: Mission Kitchen and the Covent Garden Market Authority
Programme: February 2018-April 2021
Floor area: 1600sqm
Press
Mission Kitchen launches new Network Membership initiative
Architecture 00 led the multidisciplinary design team for the whole-floor fit-out, delivering dedicated commercial-grade kitchens and co-working space managed by Mission Kitchen, whose ambition is to lower barriers to entry for food entrepreneurs through shared facilities and resources.
A highly technical brief and the constraints of the existing building were resolved through close collaboration with the wider consultant team, resulting in a robust and adaptable environment capable of supporting intensive daily use. The completed facility responds to the diverse needs of the contemporary food entrepreneur, from production and research to branding, content creation and social media.
Today, Mission Kitchen supports more than 100 food and drink businesses and has become a key destination within the wider regeneration of New Covent Garden Market. Located directly above London’s largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market, and beneath offices occupied by other food innovators, the project forms part of a unique ecosystem that encourages collaboration, resource-sharing and growth.
