A NEW £150,000 indoor market has opened its doors giving small traders an opportunity to thrive after the Covid pandemic.
The Leigh Artisan Market is now open in the former CostCutter store in Leigh Road.
The market threw open its doors for the first time yesterday with councillors, including Labour’s Aston Line and Laurie Burton, joining customers to check out the new offering.
The project has seen fruit and vegetable stalls open alongside craft stalls and a beer garden and a cafe.
The grand opening ceremony is on November 2 when mayor Margaret Borton will cut the ribbon following yesterday’s “soft” opening.
There are eight permanent traders in the market, and two pop-up counters which bosses say will allow for short-term businesses to use seasonally.
Westborough councillor Mr Line said: “I am absolutely thrilled to see the Artisan Market up and running.
“Small businesses have faced such huge challenges during the pandemic, and it is now more vital than ever that we support our shops, which form the backbone of the British economy.
“They have such an exciting variety of start-ups and expanding local businesses inside - there’s a grocer, a florist, a delicatessen, a wine merchant, a butcher, bakers, they seem to have just about everything other than a candlestick maker.”
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Mr Line said the concept of having lots of different traders under one roof is one that council bosses should consider replicating in other high streets.
He dubbed it innovative and praised those behind the market for allowing small traders an opportunity to set up with minimal overheads.
Fellow Labour councillor Laurie Burton said: “It was brilliant to check out Leigh’s new Artisan Indoor Market.
“There were so many brilliant stalls, including butchers, florists, doughnuts from Nathan Waller bakers, cheesemonger and many more.
Well done Troy and Sam Giles for making it happen.”
Bosses, the Artisan Market Group.
hope it can become a “one stop shop”.
In April, the Secret Garden brunch and cocktail bar behind the market welcomed hundreds of diners
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