Tickets for the opening weekend of the new Chester Market have been snapped up within hours of being released!
Cheshire West and Chester Council have revealed the new market will open on Bonfire Night (5th November) at 9am – and allocated free tickets for people wishing to be amongst the first through the doors.
But just a few hours after launching the tickets, the council posted a message on its website saying: “All the entry tickets for our opening preview weekend have now been allocated.
“We look forward to welcoming you from 8th when you’ll be able to discover your fresh new market where you can shop local and eat global!”
The new market will be open – with no limits on numbers – from Tuesday 8th November onwards.
It will be open six days per week (closed on Mondays) and opening hours will be: 8am-10pm (Tuesday to Saturday) and 10am-9pm (Sundays).
The council also revealed the existing Chester Market in the Forum Shopping Centre will close for the last time on Saturday 15th October.
This is to enable traders moving to the new market to complete their stall fit outs and prepare for the opening.
The existing market has been in the Forum Shopping Centre since it opened in 1967.
Plans for the city’s new Northgate development started in the 1990s, and the council has always had the ambition of opening a new market as part of the scheme.
It says the new market will be a ‘modern traditional market’ with 40 stalls covering 36,000 sq ft.
It will provide a vibrant mix of produce, goods, food and beverage traders – with over 400 seats, a stage and screen.
It’s been designed to provide a space to enjoy everything the market has to offer, including much-loved foodie nights, events, demonstrations and acoustic music performances.
The new market’s multi-storey car park is also expected be fully open to coincide with the launch.
CWAC cabinet member Cllr Richard Beacham said: “Opening the new Chester Market will be a huge achievement for the city despite the challenges of the past two years, and the start of the latest chapter in Chester’s illustrious trading history going back to the first market charter in 1159.
“It will also be a bittersweet time as we close the current market in October, it has served Chester well and I would like to thank all the customers and stall holders for over 50 years of support and service.
“We can be confident it will leave a lasting legacy and its entrepreneurial and community spirit will live on in the new market; with both the many fantastic existing traders transferring, alongside passionate new traders who will bring fresh ideas, and I know they all can’t wait to open.”
