Stakeholders outside Morpeth Market

Boost for Morpeth's historic market

Morpeth’s historic market is to undergo a transformation to improve its offer and attract more customers to the town.

The exciting project is a joint initiative from the owners of Sanderson Arcade, Dransfield Properties, working with Northumberland County Council, Morpeth Town Council and the Morpeth Partnership Group.

Currently the market is held every Wednesday, with a farmers market held on the first Saturday of the month.

The first step in the project will be an investment in new stalls and branding to give the markets a fresh new look.

A new monthly Vegan Market will also be launched in April 2020 following the success of the Vegan Hall at last year’s Morpeth Food and Drink Festival. The new monthly market will take place on the third Saturday of each month.

The stakeholder group will also oversee continued support and partnership of the existing weekly Wednesday Market and monthly Farmers’ Market which already take place in the town and showcase local traders fresh produce and crafts.

The new initiative will also bring some additional events to the town including a Mini Morpeth Food and Drink Festival on Saturday and Sunday (9th-10th May), providing a taster for the main festival which takes place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October.

The partnership will expand on summer activities in the town by introducing a weekly Street Food Market with live music and children’s entertainment to be held every Saturday evening throughout August.

Plans are also underway for a festive Christmas Market in December, exclusively showcasing traders from Northumberland and the north east.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services with the County Council, said: “We’re delighted to use this partnership to help deliver an improved market offer to Morpeth.

“This is a great example of organisations working together to improve their town, and residents, local businesses  and visitors will all benefit from better choice and increased trade in Morpeth.

“We’re keen to work with other towns in the county on this kind of partnership approach, the strength of which is a number of local stakeholders all contributing towards improving their local market.”

Dransfield Properties Operations Director, Medi Parry-Williams said: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership work here in Morpeth and this investment in the town’s markets is great news. We’re looking forward to working together to build up the markets with this investment and to deliver new events throughout the year.

“We’re confident this will really help to drive footfall and attract new visitors to the town.”

Councillor David Bawn Chair of Finance and General Purpose Committee at Morpeth Town Council said: “The market is at the heart of the town, and the Town Council warmly welcomes these improvements that will regalvanize the market offer and provide a greater variety to local shoppers, helping to reinforce Morpeth as a premium shopping destination."  

Nic Best, Chair of the Morpeth Market Partnership said: “We know that the town has increased footfall on market days and this increased range of markets should strengthen Morpeth’s claim to be a modern market town. And, of course farmers markets and speciality markets are excellent launch pads for new business ventures.”
 
View all news