Love Your Local Market

The National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) celebrates the unique market experience each year through its Love Your Local Market campaign. This year it will take place from 12th May until 27th May. The national campaign draws attention to markets’ significance and role in the local communities. It encourages others to consciously appreciate the experience of local businesses and their unique quality of products which just cannot be replicated by more prominent corporate brands. Learning the story behind and putting a face to the business makes for an inexpressibly different experience. Much rather have a conversation with a friendly face than the automated response of a successful purchase email. The benefits of supporting your local community are endless, and what better way to start than with your local markets? Here are a few of our northern favourites…

 

CHORLEY MARKET

Home to dozens of independent traders, Chorley’s renowned Markets date back to 1498, attracting visitors from miles around.

The most popular day is Tuesday, when visitors enjoy two markets – the permanent covered market and the Tuesday street market offering an outstanding range of quality goods, from clothes and accessories, gifts, fresh local produce, food-to-go, pet supplies, and much more. Plus, there are great places to sit, eat and drink while you take in the atmosphere of a traditional market.

Visiting is easy as Chorley Markets are just a stone’s throw away from the town’s train and bus stations, as well as everything else Chorley has to offer, plus there are plenty of nearby car parks offering low-cost parking.

Or why not see if your local coach travel company is one of the many organising trips to Chorley Markets? Whether shopping for essentials or fancy a fantastic day out, Chorley Markets has something for everyone. Visit checkoutchorley.com/markets for opening hours.

CARLISLE MARKET HALL

Carlisle Market Hall, situated in the heart of Carlisle, Cumbria, is one of the few remaining covered Victorian markets left in the country. It is home to a wide range of stalls which offer everything from fresh local meat and vegetables to cards and stationery; there are even multiple cafes to stop and enjoy on your way around. Open every Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm; it is a well-recommended visit.

You can find stalls by many local businesses providing the opportunity to purchase almost anything you may need under one historical roof! It is a traditional market, so you are not limited to just food stalls but also can stumble across clothes, florist stalls and haberdashery.

The venue has six communal eating areas, making it the perfect place to pick up some lunch and take in the hustle and bustle as you enjoy your new purchases. It is an ideal stop-off before or after a visit to Carlisle Castle, which famously was the place of imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots in 1567. The covered market is not limited to use as a marketplace; it has previously been used as a concert venue.

BURY MARKET

Bury Market has won multiple awards and was voted Britain’s Favourite Market in 2019 and 2022. It is home to around 275 traders and encompasses the history and traditions of market trading. Most of the market takes place in the Market Hall, offering year-round weather protection from the unpredictable nature of the British weather. Bury market traders boast a plethora of fresh, local produce, including traditional local delicacies such as the Bury black pudding. It has been described as a labyrinth, with endless possibilities for discovering new goods at each turn. It is popular with the locals, and many people travel in coach loads to spend the day exploring what the market has to offer. The Market Hall is open every day except for Sunday, and there is also a specific fish and meat hall on Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. It is the ideal day trip to explore with friends, bring your pet, walk around, grab lunch, and sit and enjoy your purchases. There are different elements to the Bury Market: the Market Hall, the Fish and Meat Market and the Market Parade. The Market Parade is the smaller section of the markets but is still not one to miss. Bury Market Hall is attached to the Mill Gate Shopping Centre, which gives you access to even more shops and stalls to explore once you have spent time exploring all the market has to offer. With glowing recommendations from many locals, visiting the Harry Muffin and Whippy’s Pies stalls is highly recommended for a selection of locally made home-baked goods.

CALDERDALE MARKETS

Discover Calderdale Markets, from the exquisite Victorian architecture of the Halifax Borough Market to Todmorden’s Open Market, established in 1802. Elland Market even has an ancient Royal Charter. Visiting Calderdale Markets guarantees a typically northern, friendly, and personal experience. The market traders are highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their produce and products and look forward to greeting everyone at their stalls. Visit Elland Market every Friday from 9am until 4pm. Todmorden Market is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9am-4pm.

Open Thursday through Sunday, Hebden Bridge’s open market offers artisan produce such as homemade pies, pastries and local cheeses and bread. Each Friday, the second-hand market encourages people to shop more sustainably and consciously. The Market strongly champions Fairtrade and the moral values of its traders. Halifax borough market is a special place in the centre of Halifax, a mere five minutes from the train station. Its Victorian architecture dates back to 1896 when the market first opened and offers a unique shopping experience which would not be found elsewhere. Open Monday to Saturday, 8am till 4.30pm.

LEEDS KIRKGATE MARKET

Located in the centre of Leeds since 1857, Leeds Kirkgate Market remains the heart of the Leeds trading community. One of the largest indoor markets in Europe, Kirkgate market is a shopper’s paradise. The Asian bazaar, which takes place every Wednesday, is the perfect time to experience the celebration of a wide range of cultures and nationalities.

Home to various fashion, food and flowers, Leeds Kirkgate hosts different markets throughout the month, such as the Record Fair on the second Saturday and the farmer’s markets hosted on Briggate just outside every first and third Sunday. It is entirely agreeable that Leeds Kirkgate offers something for everyone, and it would be tough to leave hungry! The characterful traders only add to the excitement of the market, ensuring a friendly, personal market experience.

Celebrating local businesses and encouraging them as they endeavour towards a more sustainable future in consumerism is something we should all actively try to support. Take a day trip to a local market, engage with the traders, learn their stories and suddenly, your relation to your local community and your purchases will reach a new level.

 

Click here for NorthernLife’s Ultimate Northern Market Guide

NorthernLife May/June 23