New operator for Newcastle artisan market

New operator for Newcastle artisan market

29 March 2023

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council remains on the lookout for someone take over the running of the artisan market in Newcastle.

Local authority officials are keen for someone to come forward to run the monthly market from May until March next year.

It was confirmed earlier this year that resort’s market could be on the move from outside its current base in front of the Newcastle Centre after the organisation that currently runs the market has signalled its intention not to do so in the new financial year.

As a result, council officials are currently examining potential alternative locations for the market and the storage of the stalls used by traders.

The Newcastle artisan market is one of four held across the local authority area. The others are in Downpatrick, Warrenpoint and Newry. The Downpatrick market is delivered by the town’s Community Collective.

It was also confirmed recently that the fees local craft and food producers are charged to sell 

a range of products at the markets is to be reduced from £35 to £30.

Council officials say they recognise that artisan traders and food producers have encountered signifcant increases in their operating costs with the reduced stall fee designed to not only help them, but encourage new traders along.

The move to reduce stall fees follows an extensive survey undertaken by council officials between September and November last year.

A total of 74 traders were surveyed with the feedback highlighting improved advertising of the market, a reduction in the stall fee, increased provision for family and children’s activities and growing the markers with more food stalls.

Taking the feedback on board, council officials say they are advertising the markets on social media and will continue to support the groups who manage them on the local authority’s behalf.

Since their launch, the markets have continued to go from strength to strength and figures released last December revealed that between April and September, 8,503 people visited the Newcastle market, with 8,503 making their way to the one in Downpatrick.

The average number of visitors to the Newcastle market — held outside the Annesley Buildings in  Central Promenade on the first Saturday of every month is 1,700  — while the Downpatrick market, held at St Patrick’s Square on the third Saturday of the month, attracts an average of 777 visitors.