Market to hold weekly artisan showcase
In 2021 Southport Market relaunched as a food and drinks venue following a £1.4m transformation and now it will offer a weekly showcase for artisan traders. Tony McDonough reports
Newly-transformed Southport Market is to hold a weekly showcase for artisan traders starting in February.
In 2021 the market was relaunched as a food and drinks venue following a £1.4m transformation delivered by Sefton Council. The new artisan showcase will be launched on Thursday, February 3.
Held in the new Extravaganza Space every Thursday, Southport Market’s weekly artisan market will be a chance for local traders and creators to showcase their wares. Stalls will include local crafts, personalised products, candles, beauty products, jewellery, accessories, homeware, stationary, and more.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “The new market event, held every Thursday in our Extravaganza space, provides traders with a fantastic opportunity to showcase their goods every week and for visitors to support local businesses.
“And as well as shopping for that unusual item or gift, people can also enjoy an international array of foods and drink on offer from the market’s permanent outlets.
“Since the opening of the £1.4m refurbishment and repurpose of the old Southport Market building was completed in July 2021 the new Southport Market welcomed, and continues to welcome, guests locally, regionally and nationally, and the space has gone from strength to strength.”
A brand new dessert outlet will also be opened at Southport Market by Sefton Council’s new hospitality company, in the first venture of its kind.
Sefton Hospitality Operations Limited (or SHOL for short) is a private company set up to create and operate hospitality outlets offering “exciting, diverse, and accessible options for its customers”.
The firm’s Business Plan said: “SHOL will be taking a lease from Sefton Council for a unit at Southport Market to provide desserts to visitors of the market.
‘This will be the first venture for SHOL and provides a great opportunity to employ our first team members, generate some revenue, and test out some menu and branding ideas ahead of future ventures.
“The business hopes to create several brands that can be duplicated at key locations; desserts forms an important part of this strategy.”