Page 33 - Market Times April 2022
P. 33

MARKET TIMES • APRIL 2022 33 Market Garden brings welcoming
green vibe to Swansea Market
 SWANSEA Market, famous for its cockles stalls, has a major new attraction.
Market Garden, a green-themed eating and drinking area, has been officially opened. But it was already wowing locals and bringing more shoppers into the market after it opened to the public unofficially just before Christmas.
Darren Cox, the market manager, said the new attraction was created to encourage more people to spend time in the market and enjoy the excellent food and drink on offer from the market stalls in a comfortable and safe environment.
It features more than 170 plants and comfortable, garden-style
Centenarian trader Francis Greene
tables and chairs, with an eye- catching 7.7 metre-high pergola which mirrors the shape of the market’s domed roof.
There is free public wi-fi, power charging facilities, recycling bins, a water station to refill water bottles, high chairs, warmers for babies’ bottles and a toddlers’ play table.
“The area was used for casual traders and it was a quite underused area of the market,” Darren said.
“Some of the traders were a little concerned when they found out about the plans and weren’t sure it would work, but it has turned a lesser used area into a new attraction and even the doubters are saying that it is a great addition to the market,” he added.
Work began on the new eating and drinking area last October and disturbance was kept to a minimum, with the market staying fully open.
Among those to celebrate the official opening of Market Garden was long-standing trader Francis Greene, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Though his business has now been passed on to his son Adrian, who runs it with Francis’s granddaughter Anabelle, the centenarian continues to be a life member of the NMTF, which he first joined in 1955.
     Pictured from left to right at the official launch of Swansea’s Market Garden are Sarah Lawton, city centre events and projects officer, Joe Harrison the NMTF’s CEO, Lisa Wells, city centre manager, and NMTF National President Michael Nicholson
Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “The Market Garden is part of a £440,000 improvement programme at this wonderful venue.
“It will help the market play a key role in Swansea’s great future, being led by our £1 billion regeneration.”
He described the new attraction as being “accessible, inclusive and well-managed”.
“It’s designed for the benefit and enjoyment of all customers — for meeting friends and family, catching up, emails and enjoying the fantastic range of food available from the market.
“It’s set to become a popular destination and is a flexible space that can also host events and exhibitions which will help attract a broader audience.”
















































































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