Gold Coast markets: New night markets to launch at Carrara Markets next week with street food, bars and buskers

Displaced fans of Helensvale’s popular NightQuarter markets will have a new place to indulge their love of street food and fairy lights, with a huge regular night market about to launch.

Carrara Markets is launching The Night Market. Photo: iStock

DISPLACED fans of Helensvale’s defunct NightQuarter markets will have a new place to indulge their love of street food and fairy lights, with Carrara Markets set to launch a huge new night market next week.

The veteran operator, which has built the nation’s largest daytime markets over the past 40 years, has spent more than $300,000 lighting it up for night time and building a new restaurant-style eatery called the Hungry Hub, with seats for 250 people.

A further 2700 seats have been created to cater for the festival-style food tents, aimed at eliminating the frustrating plate juggle while searching for a spot to eat, while parking is free in the market’s 2000 spaces.

The Night Market will pop up every Friday and Saturday night from 5-9pm with more than 30 new food and drink stalls joining many of the market’s 300-strong existing vendors.

Carrara Markets General Manager Denis Lee excited about the new addition for the iconic centre. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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While large-scale paid acts are not on the menu, three entertainment zones will support smaller acts every week, including chilled local buskers, duos and bands.

Markets general manager Denis Lee said there would be a distinct focus on giving families an affordable night out, with inexpensive food and drink along with carnival rides and existing Carrara favourites like mini golf, bungy trampoline, face painting and pony rides.

“The NightQuarter at Helensvale was very successful and when it closed it was obvious from the public reaction to its loss that there was a void to be filled,” he said.

“Families on the Gold Coast find it hard afford to eat out as regularly as they do overseas because it’s too expensive and too formal at one end of the scale, and brown paper bag takeaway at the other.

“With our low-price points, particularly in our three bars, and great food choices we’ve set out to make it affordable for everyone to come and enjoy a great night out every week.”

The Gold Coast's popular NightQuarter street food and entertainment night markets were very popular with locals and visitors. Photo: Supplied

The foodie offering is extensive and combines a multicultural feast of foods like Japanese, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Malay, Greek, Polish, and Turkish with Aussie favourites such as barbecue ribs and lamb.

Street food favourites will include The Tasty Thai, Market Sushi, The Churro cafe, Tommy’s Wok, Danny’s Kiwi cafe, Markets Bakery, Adriatic Deli and The Taswegian Cafe.

NightQuarter shut down in February after the site’s landlords demanded a rent increase of more than 100 per cent.

Its operators have moved to the Sunshine Coast, where they’re relaunching a new night market.

Mr Lee said Carrara Markets would not encounter that problem.

“The difference is we own the land, so we’re here for the long haul,” he said.

Entry to The Night Market is $3, which includes a $4 credit at the market bars and many of the kids attractions including mini golf.