Glossop Market traders' plea to local community

Traders on Glossop Market are issuing a plea to the local community to use it or lose it. 

The indoor market is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, but the outdoor market is still very much open for business on Thursdays (with limited stalls), Fridays and Saturdays, generally between 9am and 3pm. 

We spoke to Kelly James and Gaynor Barker, who say the traders desperately need your support to keep going.  

“It’s important because it keeps the town alive,” said Gaynor, who has been on Gaeowyn the Crafty Witch stall for five years, when asked about the need for people to support local independent businesses. 

“Going out of town and shopping at bigger companies doesn’t help the local community whereas the market has a vibe and a good community spirit. People come not only to buy stuff but even just for a chat and to catch up with people so it acts as a community hub too.” 

Kelly, who has owned Kell and Jo's Market Cafe for a number of years, added: “Glossop is a market town and the market has a fantastic array of stalls. We have a lot of people who come for a chat and support the local market and they have become our friends, not just customers. 

"We want people to use us, not lose us and we hope the future is bright for us all.” 

Traders have relocated from the indoor market to the outdoor market whilst construction work is happening, so there is plenty of variety on offer to shoppers. 

The different stalls currently based outdoors at Glossop Market

The market also hosts different events throughout the year to help increase footfall - including a local spring craft market coming up on 15 April. 

With people struggling amid the cost of living crisis as bills continue to rise, the traders hope they can offer an affordable alternative to the local community. 

“What you find here on the market is our overheads are a lot different compared to the high street so it gives us the opportunity to keep our prices as affordable as possible," Kelly said. 

"It’s something we highly promote on the market so that we can help with people’s cost of living. Times are difficult right now and we understand that but we are here to help so please come and support us.” 

High Peak Borough Council has said the multi-million-pound regeneration project of the heritage halls, which is set to be complete next year, aims to bring the Town Hall, Market Hall and Municipal Buildings up to modern standards. 

Although it’s unclear what it will mean for the market traders at this stage, they hope it will be an exciting boost for the town.

Kelly commented: “I think it’s an exciting time for the people of Glossop. We hope it will bring a vibe, increase our footfall and brings visitor in from outside the town which would be wonderful for us here on the market. It would be beneficial for the economy of Glossop.”

Gaynor added: “We’ve got the car park adjacent to the market which is good for parking and there are plenty of bus routes which come from different areas to Glossop. It would be nice to get more visitors coming to Glossop as well so people can see there is still a market, even though it’s not as big as it used to be.” 

Glossop Market traders are encouraging people to shop local and use the market when it's open 

LISTEN: Hear more from Gaynor and Kelly in our interview below...