Time to Love Your Local Market

Markets across the borough will be taking part in the national campaign to Love Your Local Market between Friday 13th May and Sunday 5th June, which is being extended this year to include the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The campaign is organised annually by the National Association of British Market Authorities, to raise the profile of markets across the UK, encourage start-up businesses and increase young people to become market traders.

Across Cheshire West there are four markets, with over one hundred traders who are dedicated to serving their localities with a huge range of produce, goods, services, food and drinks.

Modern markets are responding and innovating to meet local needs and consumer trends, as was evidenced at the height of the pandemic when traders collaborated and rose to the challenge of arranging local deliveries and providing food for the vulnerable.

Markets also provide a valuable incubator role for traders to test new business ideas, especially in the hospitality sector, with some using markets as a springboard to opening their own high-street café, bar or restaurant premises.

The Council runs markets in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford and is committed to ensuring that markets play a key role in regenerating our high streets; and with a focus on the rising cost of living and the environmental impact of our shopping habits, markets are seen as an economical, sustainable and practical way of combatting these challenges.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy & Regeneration, said: “Markets are still very much at the heart of our local communities and this year will be no exception as we join in the national Jubilee celebrations.

“This year’s theme is ‘Celebrate with your Local Market’; we want to recognise the work that markets have done for local communities over the last two years and their importance now and in the future.”

With some vacancies currently available, becoming a market trader is a low cost, low risk way of starting up in business with short term leases and very competitive rents available.

Please contact:

markets@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

...for more details about the support and mentoring available.

Current market opening hours:

Chester Market
Monday to Thursday - 8am until 5pm
Friday and Saturday - 8am until 8pm

Ellesmere Port Market
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 8am - 5pm
Wednesday: Closed
Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Northwich Market
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Winsford Market
Monday, Thursday and Saturday, 9am to 4pm

All markets are closed on Bank Holidays.