A host of food markets and a new pop-up restaurant are coming to Harrow town centre after it was awarded funding as part of a community growth scheme.

They will be based in a new public square at the site of the old Cumberland Hotel in Lyon Road.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, awarded the project £485,000 from his ‘Good Growth Fund’, which focuses on cultural regeneration for communities in the capital.

This grant has been matched by private sector funding meaning that the scheme will benefit from more than £1 million worth of investment.

Keith Ferry, responsible for business and regeneration at Harrow Council, said: “Harrow town centre is on the rise – we’re bucking the trend across Britain, and business is booming.

“New businesses, restaurants and cafes are coming in and this investment will give Harrow’s budding food entrepreneurs a chance to test their ideas on shoppers like me before taking the plunge.

“I say it time and again. Building a better Harrow isn’t just about revitalising our borough with homes for Harrow people.

“It’s about extra public space. It’s about shops and offices – and places to eat and have fun. We’re proud to be winning cash with our plans to support that.”

As well as hosting food markets, the public square can be used for events, playing spaces and for outdoor seating.

And the pop up ‘test’ restaurant, with its industrial kitchen, will give small and new food sector businesses the chance to grow.

The funding will also be used to hire a ‘market operator’ to run the new space, while a variety of kiosks will be able to make use of it.

Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, said: “This project is a great example of how we can work with local communities on projects in a way that will help ensure the benefits are felt by all.”