Page 37 - Market Times February 2022
P. 37

FEATURE • FIVE VALLEYS 37
Stroud in Gloucestershire has more than its fair share of market success. Now the traditional Shambles Market and the nationally acclaimed weekly farmers’ market have been joined by a new market at the heart of multi-million pound Five Valleys Shopping Centre — and it is a perfect fit. Nicola Gould reports
  Inspired by London’s iconic Borough Market, Five Valleys Market within a newly revamped shopping centre in Stroud is aiming to make its mark in a town famous for arty creativity and said to be the birthplace of the organic food move- ment.
Undeterred by the fact that the town already has several successful markets, Dransfield Properties, based in South Yorkshire, made the bold decision to put a market at the heart of Five Valleys Shopping Centre.
It wasn’t a one-off, either. The company simply loves markets and opened Fox Valley Market at its shopping centre near Sheffield, as well as working with councils in Morpeth, Northumberland, and at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire to support the markets next to its shopping centres, and to a launch new farmers’ market in Gainsborough.
Although it’s early days for both the shopping centre and the market, which opened in July 2020, all 20 units are taken by an eclectic mix of independent traders, all passionate about what they do. There is a top-quality fruit and veg stall, fine wine, a florists worthy of Chelsea Flower Show, an artisan bakers, a fantastic fishmonger, a brilliant butcher, a great deli, and much more.
Like so many modern indoor markets, the big pull is the hot food offer, with every kind of hot food and drink on offer and a central seating area.
It’s open seven days a week including late on Friday and is already proving a big attraction within a big new retail and leisure destination, with one feeding off the other.
Jessica Derham, markets and events manager for Five Valleys, said Dransfield had worked in partnership with Stroud
Borough Council to redevelop what was a shabby, tired shopping centre called Merrywalks.
Dransfield literally pulled everything out of the old centre and created a modern, welcoming shopping centre with Sanderson’s, Dransfield’s department store, as the anchor. The aim was to offer something for everyone and every pocket — so you will find stylish, designer goods and products there alongside a Home Bargains store.
The programme of improvements is ongoing, with a new multi-million pound medical centre currently under construction on the large town centre site.
Jessica has her own memories of the old shopping centre.
“About 10 years ago I came to Merry- walks for a day out shopping with my mum,” she said. “When we got out of the car the car park was so dirty we wondered
t




















































































   35   36   37   38   39