THE NATION'S FAVOURITE MARKET

[Ultra]

From the Mockery

Market is voted nation's favourite

It is a place which survives on the support of the local population and a great example of how shopping locally keeps small businesses going.

Yesterday, Leicester Market, made up of traders from across the city and county, was declared the nation's favourite.

Following a public vote on the internet, the venue was declared the most popular by the National Association of British Market Authorities.

The accolade coincides with our launch this week of our Support Your County campaign, encouraging readers to shop at small, local retailers to keep them going through the recession.

Every year, more than 2.5 million people visit the stalls, which is more than 700 years old, and Europe's largest covered market.

Nick Rhodes, the market's manager, said the victory spoke volumes about the public support for traders.

He said: "It's excellent news. We're delighted to be Britain's favourite market and we shall continue to do the good work to keep it great.

"More than 2.5 million people visit each year and that's probably being conservative about it. It's a market with a lot of history and has a lot of support from the local population."

The news was welcomed by shoppers in the market yesterday.

Pensioner Derrise Dunmore, from Evington, Leicester, said: "The market is very friendly and I like the fruit. We like to support local businesses. It's very important to keep the small traders going through a recession and we also try to use the small corner shops."

Steve Mackiewicz, 50, from Stoneygate, Leicester, said: "I shop here most weeks and it's just a great atmosphere. It's good to be supporting local businesses, too.

"Today, I've come for some mushrooms for an Italian meal I'm cooking tonight, and I get all my fruit and veg here. It's always value for money and you don't have to queue for hours!"

Stallholders were also delighted at the news of the award. Stephen Seal, who works on the DG Cottingham grocery stall, said: "It's great. Very atmospheric and the people are all great.

"Business is touch-and-go now because everyone is skint, so we need people to support the market."

Teresa Wall, of Teresa's Salads, said: "I've been here nearly four years and it's definitely the best. We're here all week because it's the best place to be. It's cheap and cheerful!"

Last night, the plaque was shown to a meeting of Leicester City Council by Councillor Paul Westley, who is a leading member of the Market Forum and who picked the award up in Birmingham yesterday.

He said: "This competition has been going for four years and it's the first time Leicester has entered. We're very proud of our traders. It's extremely good news."

Graham Wilson, chief executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities, congratulated Leicester on the win. He said: "Leicester was successful in beating markets from all over the country to be named the most popular market.

"Lots of people voted for Leicester and it's clear the market plays a vital role in the life of the city."

Congratualations to all involved in achieving this award.

I'm sure at least one reader of these boards will be pleased at this news..

[JoeyB]

From the Mockery

Congratualations to all involved in achieving this award.

I'm sure at least one reader of these boards will be pleased at this news..

Craig Adams got a stall on their as well?

Congrats to everyone involved in this.

KUTGW

[Dr The Singh]

From the Mockery

Congratualations to all involved in achieving this award.

I'm sure at least one reader of these boards will be pleased at this news..

Congrats to all associated with the market, hopefully this award will attract more customers and keep the trade going!!

[Bellend Sebastian]

I had literally no idea that Duran Duran's keyboard player was in this line of work

[Milky]

wow, i had no idea the market was so good. All these years of avoiding it like a bad smell. What on earth have i been missing

[Lillehamring]

wow, i had no idea the market was so good. All these years of avoiding it like a bad smell. What on earth have i been missing

a lot of overpriced car boot crap, and hugely inconsistant standards of produce.

the only reason i go there is for dolly mixtures vintage indoors, and one day i hope to buy some foam from the foam stall....

there's too much tack on there these days, the market needs dumping sosmewhere else, if you ask me, and reclaiming the square back for special events.

[cisono]

Every year, more than 2.5 million people visit the stalls, which is more than 700 years old, and Europe's largest covered market.

Is it me or the grammar is a bit off?

[Milky]

a lot of overpriced car boot crap, and hugely inconsistant standards of produce.

the only reason i go there is for dolly mixtures vintage indoors, and one day i hope to buy some foam from the foam stall....

there's too much tack on there these days, the market needs dumping sosmewhere else, if you ask me, and reclaiming the square back for special events.

oh

[cisono]

a lot of overpriced car boot crap, and hugely inconsistant standards of produce.

The fruit in particular... cannot trust its freshness!

[Ultra]

there's too much tack on there these days, the market needs dumping sosmewhere else, if you ask me, and reclaiming the square back for special events.

Last time the Council tried that, it had the biggest public protest in Leicester since the poll tax.

It won't be trying it again any time soon..

[hairy]

The fruit in particular... cannot trust its freshness!

Tell the stall owner you will pick your own from their selection. It stops them putting all the out of date stuff hidden behind the piles of fruit and veg in a bag for you.

[Thracian]

From the Mockery

Congratualations to all involved in achieving this award.

I'm sure at least one reader of these boards will be pleased at this news..

Pleased as punch and not especially surprised. Our market is a facility to be proud of and anyone who has stood on other markets, as I have, could testify that Leicester's facilities are outstanding.

I don't know about the stalls being visited by 2.5 million customers a year - cos I'm not sure the figures take account of the fact that many people simply walk through the market en route to somewhere else.

And any stallholder will say the market is nothing like as well patronised as it used to be and that there are a number of things that could be done to improve the4 situation.

But there's support and enthusiasm aplenty. People often ask me why I don't trade on the internet or at weekend fairs and the truth is, if I sold my stock in those places, I couldn't sell it to some of the best customers I've ever known anywhere - customers who celebrated today's "best market" news by seeing us through to a record days takings on this, perhaps, the coldest day of winter so far or ccertainly the chilliest.

It's a good atmosphere at Leicester. There are always rules to follow on any market but generally I find the market staff positive and helpful and the traders are in a class of their own.

Things can be done to improve still further what the market offers, just as we stallholders can always improve our service but the starting point for Leicester will still be way ahead of the rest.

It's a special place which attracts visitors from miles away and I hope the council take the same pride I do in the place and never forgets its value to the City.

[Thracian]

a lot of overpriced car boot crap, and hugely inconsistant standards of produce.

the only reason i go there is for dolly mixtures vintage indoors, and one day i hope to buy some foam from the foam stall....

there's too much tack on there these days, the market needs dumping sosmewhere else, if you ask me, and reclaiming the square back for special events.

They've done that sort of thing in Northampton and the place is a disaster.

And the market doesn't need "dumping" either. It needs properly promoting and, like the rest of the shopping facilities, it needs the availability of porterage. So many items have disappeared from markets because the customer can't shift them easily.

Leicester market needs effort being made to fill its empty tables with some of the stall types that are currently missing and it needs to readjust an archaic stall-pricing system which wrongly assumes that Fridays and Saturdays are necessarily the best trading days.

There will always, hopefully, be bric-a-brak on markets where people can mooch around and pay a few pounds for a nick-knack or two.

Many of the visitors from nearby sheltered housing cannot afford "quality". They just love to feel they are part of market life and that they can pass a happy half-hour finding a little something on which to spend their daily allowance of a fiver or a tenner.

I go to some trouble to ensure they have things to mooch through, just as much trouble as I go to for other customers who can and do spend quite significant sums.

Overpriced? I'd love to know the basis of that comment. A quid for a bowl of fruit or vegetables? £2-£5 for a working watch with battery? Three pounds for a sterling silver chain or bangle? Decent trousers or jumpers for £1?

We sell a good third of our stock to dealers who turn to us week after week and no-one is more aware of value for money than them cos if their purchases don't make them a profit they'll likely not buy off you again. And if you want a particular thing, if it is within our trading sphere, we'll do our level best to find it for you and at the right price whether that be £1 or £10.000.

Virtually alongside me are people selling brand new clothing, electrical items, toys, bric-a-brac, computer games, CD's, rag trade items, hats, costume jewellery, a £1 stall, people selling bicycles, badges, brooches, medals, stamps, films, books, watches, bijouterie , net curtains, old and modern toys, vinyl records etc, so there's stacks of variety.

Like you I wish there was even more and a greater range of quality. But it is surprising what you can get if ask. As for people selling "crap", as with any high stret shop, if you are not happy with a purchase, just take it back. With things like fruit and vegetables there will always be good and bad but most traders will cheerfully put the matter right.

[fox123]

With old buildings being re-placed by new, I think it is imperative that Leicester keeps some tradition, the Market is one of its iconic land marks. Great news and recognition to the City and for local economy.

[Thracian]

Last time the Council tried that, it had the biggest public protest in Leicester since the poll tax.

It won't be trying it again any time soon..

Next drink's on me then.

[Vacamion]

Can anyone find a picture of Lineker at the market, posing for a photo putting bananas into a paper bag ?

Or did I invent that memory??

[Thracian]

There are City connections on the market even today...

[fox123]

There are City connections on the market even today...

Levi took up selling Apples 'n' Pears?

[Thracian]

Levi took up selling Apples 'n' Pears?

Not yet but he's expected anytime...

[Lovejoy]

Means absolutely f.a. to me, but well done Lecester .

[Lillehamring]

They've done that sort of thing in Northampton and the place is a disaster.

And the market doesn't need "dumping" either. It needs properly promoting and, like the rest of the shopping facilities, it needs the availability of porterage. So many items have disappeared from markets because the customer can't shift them easily.

Leicester market needs effort being made to fill its empty tables with some of the stall types that are currently missing and it needs to readjust an archaic stall-pricing system which wrongly assumes that Fridays and Saturdays are necessarily the best trading days.

There will always, hopefully, be bric-a-brak on markets where people can mooch around and pay a few pounds for a nick-knack or two.

Many of the visitors from nearby sheltered housing cannot afford "quality". They just love to feel they are part of market life and that they can pass a happy half-hour finding a little something on which to spend their daily allowance of a fiver or a tenner.

I go to some trouble to ensure they have things to mooch through, just as much trouble as I go to for other customers who can and do spend quite significant sums.

Overpriced? I'd love to know the basis of that comment. A quid for a bowl of fruit or vegetables? £2-£5 for a working watch with battery? Three pounds for a sterling silver chain or bangle? Decent trousers or jumpers for £1?

We sell a good third of our stock to dealers who turn to us week after week and no-one is more aware of value for money than them cos if their purchases don't make them a profit they'll likely not buy off you again. And if you want a particular thing, if it is within our trading sphere, we'll do our level best to find it for you and at the right price whether that be £1 or £10.000.

Virtually alongside me are people selling brand new clothing, electrical items, toys, bric-a-brac, computer games, CD's, rag trade items, hats, costume jewellery, a £1 stall, people selling bicycles, badges, brooches, medals, stamps, films, books, watches, bijouterie , net curtains, old and modern toys, vinyl records etc, so there's stacks of variety.

Like you I wish there was even more and a greater range of quality. But it is surprising what you can get if ask. As for people selling "crap", as with any high stret shop, if you are not happy with a purchase, just take it back. With things like fruit and vegetables there will always be good and bad but most traders will cheerfully put the matter right.

it was a bit of a generalisation...sorry...

the overpriced stuff is invariably the worst stuff - the sort of things i'd buy (books records) are found cheaper and in better condition in charity shops.

the fruit and veg is super cheap, no doubt, but i always ended up chucking so much away it was better economy going to sainsburys

i think the problem i have is that it is a niche market yet gets council funding - but i'm sure a designer boutique wouldn't get the subsidies and support the market gets.

the best thing they did was banning parking around it, the worst thing was building the permanent stalls, at which point it ceases to be a market.

it's annoying seeing the council throwing money at it while independant shopowners are closing down because of astronomical rents.

[Thracian]

it was a bit of a generalisation...sorry...

the overpriced stuff is invariably the worst stuff - the sort of things i'd buy (books records) are found cheaper and in better condition in charity shops.

the fruit and veg is super cheap, no doubt, but i always ended up chucking so much away it was better economy going to sainsburys

i think the problem i have is that it is a niche market yet gets council funding - but i'm sure a designer boutique wouldn't get the subsidies and support the market gets.

the best thing they did was banning parking around it, the worst thing was building the permanent stalls, at which point it ceases to be a market.

it's annoying seeing the council throwing money at it while independant shopowners are closing down because of astronomical rents.

I'm glad not every customer seems to feel like you and sad that you seem to have had such poor experiences. But anyway, for what it's worth I'll make the following points in answer to what you say:

a) You may find records that are in better condition in charity shops, I really don't know. But I've never found a single collection of 300-odd Beatles singles and LPs such as I've been selling on Leicester market in recent weeks nor anything like the variety of other records offered at Leicester market in any charity outlet. I insist on purchasers checking the condition of items but would always refund an unhappy customer in any case.

As for books, I've scoured Leicester's charity shops and never found anything of any merit at all. And certainly nothing like the collections of books on such things as steam locomotives, Tony Hancock, The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney etc that we've had around these last six weeks never mind reaonsably rare books on British Birds, Napoleon, John Bunyan, The City of London from Roman times to the Present etc.

b) I asked my wife for her opinion of the fruit and veg and she said it was mixed. She advised asking to try anything where practical, using the same traders where possible and getting to know them.

She advised asking them about what you were buying and building an ongoing relationship. With tryable items like grapes and cherries I'd generally give the purchases I've made regularly 6 or 7/10, the pineapple has been 10/10 and by far the best I've bought anywhere and I've always found peaches, apples, oranges to be mixed but no more so than when I or my wife have bought from supermarkets.

c) I've not been a trader in Leicester long enough to know the income/investment figures though I'm sure Ultra could supply them. However the word from the traders is that, far from the market being "supported" by the council it is a cash cow for them and they have taken out millions more than they have ever put in.

Leicester market is open six days a week and has 300 stalls that are probably 75% taken, perhaps more. Each of those stallholders pay varied rents of £15 per stall per day upwards - that's over £3,750 per day or over £20,000 in rents per week, not to mention any storage fees which work out at £30 per week per stallholder and any higher rate provisions such as permanent shops which cost considerably more.

Altogether that's going on for an income of £1m a year at a guess and I cannot imagine expenditure is anything like that. So everything the market gets is paid for and much, much more and there is nothing to stop a designer boutique planting roots there on the same terms as everyone else.

d) As for the permanent stalls they are a godsend to the traders. Self erected table carry all sorts of problems and dangers. They are untidy. The different sizes make it hard to administer rents and encourage disputes. Traders don't want to erect furniture on top of doing their loading for the day.

Disruptive or poorly people can collapse on temporary tables damaging stock or themselves and such tables are often nothing like as weather proof as the permanent ones which also incorporate a host of advantages that are the envy of traders on other markets like fabric bars, electrical light sockets etc.

The permanent roofing keeps the market functioning in seriously adverse weather, is suitable for the erection of things like Christmas lights and keeps the traders dry because temporary covers are seriously awful by comparison and highly dangerous in the wind.

e) Shop rents always sound astronomically high and unreasonable to me. But the market traders were there in Leicester long before any High Street "name" and actually had their own livings considerably affected with the coming of he supermarkets, multi-nationals and pedestrianisation.

That said I think there's a belting balance of individual and national/international stores in Leicester and, from my limited experience with "rival" shops we actually have quite a complimentary relationship and I'd doubt we affect each other's trade much at all.