Southport Market ‘a huge success’ with thousands of visitors and new businesses opening

Southport Market has been “a huge success” since it opened, attracting thousands of visitors into Southport – and attracting substantial new investment into the Market Quarter. 

There is “lots more planned to expand the offering” in the area, with a new Southport Market Events Space due to open this month, and more planned to bring more people into the town centre. 

All the units at Southport Market are now full, with a waiting list of businesses keen to move in if any become vacant. 

Southport Market was opened by Sefton Council in July following a £1.4million transformation into an exciting new food, drink and events venue, thanks to £900,000 Town Deal funding with £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region. 

“Since its opening in late July the repurposed Market has been a huge success with tens of thousands of people visiting and experiencing the offer,” said Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills Councillor Marion Atkinson at the full Sefton Council meeting. 

“It is evident that many of the visitors are residents who have been desperate for this type of investment in the town.

“Early evidence suggests many of the local visitors had maybe stopped coming into the town centre.

“It is also clear that Southport Market is attracting repeat visits from not only residents but also from visitors further afield. 

“There has been a great momentum of social media positivity around the Market with many people commenting it’s one of the best things to happen to Southport in many years.

“What is also reassuring that since its opening new independent businesses are opening on Market and King Street. 

“We are less than 3 months into our 3-year business plan with lots more planned to expand the offering over the next few months that will drive further footfall not only into the market but the town also.

“Due to its popularity we now also have a waiting list of traders wanting to set up new businesses in The Market”. 

Sefton Council completed the Southport Market project this summer following many months of work including evidence gathering, site visits, feasibility studies, scoping, design and presenting a business case. 

The opening of the new venture has led to substantial investment in the Market Quarter with the recent opening of local, independent businesses including Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen; Eva’s Sewing Room; Urban Attic; and The Cake Box. 

Season Coffee, Bar, Kitchen on King Street in Southport

New owners have now taken over The Coronation pub, while German Doner Kebab is investing £500,000 in converting the former McDonald’s building on the corner of King Street and Eastbank Street, creating 30 new jobs. 

Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “One of the main objectives of the refurbishment and repurposing of the Southport Market was for it to be a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Southport.

“The Market has only been open since late July. In that time two long term empty retail units on Market Street have become occupied while two other units are undergoing refurbishment.

“A long-standing empty unit on King Street is now also occupied by a coffee shop and bar while the old McDonald’s unit that has been vacant for seven years is about to be occupied with circa £500,000 investment.

“There are more plans for the market, and this will continue to be implemented in a phased approach that will bring more added benefits.

“The events space is due to be completed in October bringing more footfall to both the Market and the surrounding area, again it is hoped this will not only generate extra footfall for the existing businesses but act as a reason for more private sector investment into the area and Southport town centre.”

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