Page 3 - Market Times February 2021
P. 3

                          Times FEATURES
February 2021
                    The Leicestershire market flourishing in adversity
Promoted as “the rural food capital of Britain”, the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray thrives on its food heritage — but there is more to its busy market than pork pies and Stilton cheese. Nicola Gould finds out
he town that is synonymous with Tpork pies has more than one string to its bow. Melton Mowbray in
rural Leicestershire is also one of the homes of Stilton cheese, which has helped it establish a reputation for fine food her- itage.
And what better showcase for the best of British produce than the charter market which fills the town centre, often to bursting point, every Tuesday and Saturday?
Melton Mowbray Market is a historical throwback in that it is still run by a town estate, a form of town administration established by Henry VIII following the Dissolution of the Monasteries with the aim of giving local people more of a stake in the running of their town.
A not-for-profit concern, Melton Mowbray Town Estate was established in 1594 when the townspeople sold the Church’s gold and bought land to be held in trust for all residents.
It was once responsible for education,
the first street lighting, and it still runs the town’s parks and sports grounds — not to mention the market.
The recently appointed town bailiff responsible for the day to day running of the estate’s services is Billy Boulding, who has come full circle to assume the role.
“I was born and bred in Melton Mowbray, and my first job at 16 was helping to set up the brass ornaments stalls next to the butcher who is still trading on the market,” he said.
He pursued a career in engineering but then decided he wanted a role closer to home and heart. So he applied for the position of bailiff when the long-serving Andrew Cooper decided to retire, and landed the job right in the middle of the pandemic.
“I actually started in June when we had just come out of the first lockdown,” Billy said.
He fondly recalls the market of old which he used to visit with his nan. “It
      Clitheroe Market in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley has seen footfall increase ten-fold after local people rediscovered the quality, value and friendliness of their historic market during lockdown. Nicola Gould reports
“Market footfall increases ten- fold,” “Town supermarkets are taking a hit”, “Locals queue to shop on their charter market.”
hey are headlines every market Ttrader would love to see, but for one Lancashire market that was in serious trouble in the very recent past,
they reflect reality.
And the dramatic turnaround is down to the pandemic, and more specifically, to the effect of lockdown which led to hundreds if not thousands of people rediscovering the benefits of market shopping.
An ancient market dating from a charter granted in 1346, Clitheroe has boasted a prosperous market over the centuries with a good location in the centre of town under the watchful eye of Clitheroe Castle.
More than 30 years ago the market moved a short distance from its previous location, which is now a car park, to the
Bull Ring where the local cattle market used to operate.
And since then the lines of cabins across from the open fixed stalls have all done steady but not exceptional trade. Nevertheless, footfall was gradually dropping off and when the council proposed a town centre redevelopment and unveiled plans to demolish the fixed stalls, it seemed that the writing was on the wall for Clitheroe market.
Bob Watson, who has been the superintendent running the market for
     Chippenham — p4
Stylish Stamford Market
Clitheroe — p18
Bingham Market blossoms amid the gloom of COVID-19
Bingham — p36
Melton Mowbray — p12
  stays strong
One of the UK’s best outdoor markets just got better. Switching the twice a week farmers’ market to every market day has helped to boost footfall at the popular Friday market which has grown during the pandemic. Nicola Gould pays a pre-Christmas visit
Stamford — p24
he Friday charter market that snakes Tthrough the streets of the elegant Georgian town of Stamford in Lin-
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Harrods of markets”, it has been an exceptional market for many a year, even in the kipper season. And as with so many outdoor markets, the pandemic has proved a double-edged sword, bringing fear and uncertainty for traders and townspeople alike, but ultimately attracting new shoppers to the market.
Gary Taylor, who made the transition to market manager for South Kesteven District Council after an Army career, said he was proud of the way everyone had pulled together this year to support the market.
A market novice when he took the job,
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GStarmy fToarydlor is market superintendent for
small businesses.
“Stamford is a great place for a market because of all the attractive buildings and
hcoeraictahgees,csomininngohremrea,l pyaeratriscuwlaerlgyeton Fridays for the market and we have a smaller niche products market in Red Lion Square every Saturday,” Gary said.
In fact, the town is so picturesque it is regularly chosen as a film location. It was used as the village of Meryton in the movie Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Middlemarch was also shot in Stamford.
The town also has lots of unusual, niche shops, tea shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels which makes it a popular destination for a day out, Gary said.
So the market has long established itself as an upmarket place to shop for fine fresh plirnoedsu, caen,dmseoamt eatnhdinfgishfoarsewverllyaosnea,rtfyr,ocmrafty
COVID confusion continues 16 Campaign to encourage young traders is on again 17
Traders support efforts to help low-income
families access healthy food 22
Virtual NMTF AGM in April 23 Recruitment drive for new Chester market hall 23
Margaret’s vanilla slices tickle the fancy of Leader
of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg 28
Tenby market traders have their say on who
should run their market 28
Grant to give a little help to university students 28
New private operator for Crewe market following
£3 million transformation 29
Great offer for traders — get a contactless
card reader for just £19 40
Spring Into Markets guide to be launched 41
Great Yarmouth £3.6 million market redevelopment moves a step closer 46
Legendary Birmingham shellfish business
clocks up 180 years — not out 46
Advertisers index 47
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Northallerton — p30
Newark — p42
The markets featured in this edition were all visited between the second and third lockdowns in England
Newark Royal Market fights its corner
  Editor: Roy Holland 01226 352808 • Assistant Editor: Vanessa Higginbottom 01226 352812 • Editorial Assistant: Rebecca Johnson 01226 352806 Journalist: Nicola Gould • Email: publicity@nmtf.co.uk
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