Southport Market sponsored feature by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Fourth birthday celebrations are taking place at Southport Market today as traders said they have enjoyed seeing the venue continuing to go “from strength to strength”.
Southport Market was transformed by Sefton Council into a stylish new food, drink and events venue in a £1.5 million scheme, opening its doors on 23rd July 2021.
It was the first successful initiative completed using funding through the Town Deal scheme, with £900,000 in Accelerator funding from the Government boosted by £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Southport Market hosts seven superb food vendors, each operated by local independent businesses in Southport, selling food from around the world.
They include: Hector’s Mexicana; 600 Degrees; Pitamu; Cake Corner; Pasta 51 Express; Lenny’s; and the Little Korean Kitchen. In addition is the central Market Bar, operated by Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group, and Blackhurst Butchers.
Part of the space is occupied by the Extravaganza Events Space.
Visitors can also sit and dine or drink outside, with millions of pounds of public realm improvements currently taking place in the Market Quarter area including Market Street, King Street and Eastbank Street.
Mathew Stock, the Manager of Pitamu at Southport Market, said:
“The time has flown by! It feels like six months, not four years.
“It has been brilliant to see Southport Market go from strength to strength – it has been exciting.
“Southport Market has become a real family hub. It’s the perfect place for people of all ages to come and meet – there’s something here for everyone.
“It has a lovely atmosphere when it’s busy. I feel very blessed to be in here!
“There is so much choice for people when they come in. There are seven food vendors and a central bar, so visitors can mix and match, and they can try new things. Most places offer sharing platters too. It’s a very relaxed way of eating.
“Recently, it’s been brilliant to see Market Street reopen after its pedestrianisation, it’s a lovely place to sit outside this summer.”
Eddie Weights, the Manager at the Little Korean Kitchen, said:
“I have been looking forward to the birthday celebrations at Southport Market!
“It’s good that the birthday party is being held right at the start of the school summer holidays, it’s perfect timing.
“Four years of Southport Market is a brilliant milestone to reach.
“The Little Korean Kitchen has been here for a few weeks now, but judging by the start we’ve had, it’s going to get even better this summer!
“During the summer holidays, Southport Market is an excellent place to be.
“It’s become a perfect meeting place for people from all over the region; it’s nice and relaxed, everyone can come and go as they please, they can choose what they want to eat and when.
“We are open during the week as well as weekends, so I’d love to see more families calling in midweek too.
“This summer should be a busy time, especially when Southport hosts really big events such as the Southport Flower Show and Southport Air Show.
“In the Extravaganza Space at the back of the Market, they’re planning some brilliant events for people to come and enjoy this September and October too.”
There is no contest for the title of the longest established business at Southport Market.
That accolade definitely goes to the family-run Blackhurst Butchers, which has been trading since 1963, and has been operating inside Southport Market for the past 55 years.
It is the only business which traded both inside the old style Southport Market, as well as being inside since its conversion in 2021.
Blackhurst Butchers owner Tony Blackhurst said:
“We were originally one of eight butchers inside Southport Market. They included six traditional butchers, plus one selling poultry, and one selling pork.
“We are the last ones still going, as we’re very proud to be here.
“While the roadworks have been taking place this year to improve Southport Market Quarter, we have been very grateful of the ongoing support we have enjoyed from our regular customers who have continued to come in and shop with us.
“It is great to be celebrating the fourth birthday of the new look Southport Market!
“We always see a big upturn in the school holidays. Hopefully we all have a busy few weeks ahead.
“I am looking forward to the public realm work finishing this autumn, it should look really good when it’s all finished.”
Many people in Southport have fond memories of the old Southport Market. Many years ago, it was home to several butchers, poultry and game outlets, wool shops, fabric outlets, a sweet shop, card shops.
Internet shopping and big supermarkets then left the space nearly empty. Times changed. Sefton Council drew up an ambitious plan to transform the venue into a food, drink and events venue.
When the opportunity for Town Deal funding from the Government became available, they suddenly had a ‘shovel ready’ scheme that was able to be converted quickly through Town Deal accelerator funding (£900,000), in addition to half a million pounds from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Sefton Council’s Tourism team worked with DV8 Design and others to create something truly remarkable and eye-catching; its design based on a seaside fairground theme; a modern, vibrant new landmark for the Southport of today.
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