Page 15 - MarketTimesDecember2014
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The ancient market at Kingston upon Now that the new-look market is in place, The final elements, including new awnings,
should be in place before the end of the year. The old market was a busy, much loved
institution in Kingston, with a big emphasis on food, including several impressive fruit and veg businesses and long-established fish and meat stalls, with several hot food businesses.
All but one of the traders moved to the new market, and the net was cast wide to recruit new traders who could bring the right mix of quality and diversity.
The result is an attractive, market with a great mix of traditional food stalls and hot food from all over the world.
There is an air of optimism among the traders, with new and long-established traders content with the good footfall and confident about the future.
None is more optimistic than Mushtaq Ahmad who has been a part-time trader on the market for 20 years and now hopes to take the world by storm with his Indian fast food concept called Chilli Cha Cha.
“As a food trader, I am more than happy with the new market stalls,” said Mushtaq. “We now have a nice, clean environment and space for tables and chairs.”
Mushtaq has a dream of turning his market business into a global brand. “There is nothing like it and Indian fast food is a great healthy option,” he said. And he believes Kingston is the ideal place to launch a successful business.
“Over 20 years ago a survey placed Kingston as the top London borough in which to live and property prices went up overnight,” he said.
An estimated 35,000 people shop on the market every Saturday and Kingstonfirst has already experimented by bringing the StockMKT night market to the town to boost the night-time economy.
Mushtaq would be interested in staying open later to catch the evening trade, but at the moment he is doing well serving the lunchtime market.
Loretta Gordon, who started her Caribbean hot food business on Kingston market in the summer, is also finding business good.
Loretta learned to cook from her mother
Thames has had a 21st century
makeover. Gone are the dilapidated wooden market huts that used to encircle the Grade II listed Market House.
Kingstonfirst, which was the UK’s first Business Improvement District (BID), has spearheaded the redevelopment scheme, pedestrianising Market Place and installing 29 new lock-up stalls around the rejuvenated market building, at present disused.
There is space for 22 pop-up stalls at the rear of Market House, near the entrance to All Saints Church, which also saw investment as part of the £3 million scheme. There is an area for events and entertainment, as well as a spot in the centre of the square with green astroturf and deckchairs — already a community hub.
The modernistic revamp did not meet with universal approval. Kingston’s main market is called the ancient market for a reason. There has been a produce market in the square since 1170, when Henry II was on the throne. The same fishmongers business has been trading here since 1866, and some traders and locals felt that the traditional market look should be retained.
most traders are pleased with the outcome, and the waiting list of 400 wanting to get on to the market suggests that Kingstonfirst got it just about right.
Allan Ottey, a long-standing market manager who used to run Nuneaton market, was recruited to oversee the transformation, and he is delighted with the way the scheme has progressed.
“When I first saw the old huts I could see that investment was urgently needed,” he said. Kingston, on the Thames to the south west of central London, is a buzzing, affluent borough which is ranked the UK’s third best shopping centre.
Allan immediately saw the potential.
“Market Place is the perfect location in the heart of the retail centre. There are plenty of locals and visitors to the town. It is a university town with lots of students, and people are attracted by the history and amenities as well as the vibrant shopping centre,” he said.
The main transformation was completed within 12 months, with the traders initially moving within the site, then relocating to the nearby Memorial Gardens.
Allan Ottey, who used to manage Nuneaton Market, was recruited to manage the transformation of Kingston market
  Heleena McCrindle is a markets assistant with Kingstonfirst, the UK’s first Business Improvement District (BID), which has overseen the redevelopment of the market
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