Southport Market traders praised for creating an ‘international smorgasbord of tasty treats’

Southport Market is going from strength to strength after being buoyed by the growing ‘staycation’ holiday market.

Since reopening in July 2021, the hugely popular food and drink hall in Southport town centre has already served over a quarter of a million meals and 100,000 pints to tens of thousands of visitors.

It has also directly led to a transformation of the surrounding area with a number of new shops and businesses opening up due to increased footfall. 

In a report to Sefton Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s November 8th meeting, a One Year Review of Southport Market shows that the venue has continued to perform very well despite industry-wide challenges.

Tireless work by the traders and Sefton Council staff since the opening are among the factors the report says are behind the market’s success. The support of the local community to the unique investment, which provides a new reason to visit this part of town, has also been important.

Southport Market’s success is expected to grow even more in 2023 with significant changes to the public realm space around Market Street and King Street, which are designed to increase footfall in the area.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: 

“When it was  first launched I made a promise that the new look Southport Market would be a great success and a year in, despite the effects of a worldwide pandemic and the hard-hitting cost of living crisis, we are already seeing the fruits of our labour come good.

“This is in no small part down to the work and creativity of our traders who have come together with their culinary skills to produce an international smorgasbord of tasty treats.

Pitamu at Southport Market. Photo by Mark Shirley

“Their own successes have been bolstered by an incredible events calendar put together by Sefton Council’s Tourism team who have transformed our flexible events space time and time again for a series of amazing shows, conventions and fayres.”

One of the key objectives of investing into the new Southport Market was for it to be a catalyst for further investment in the area and Sefton. 

Cllr Marion Atkinson continued: “Most traders in the market are from the local area and have either established new businesses or expanded current businesses, creating over 30 new jobs. “The increased footfall has led to several long-term vacant units have become occupied by new independent businesses in both Market and King Street.

“This continued investment is showing no signs of slowing down and a number of large vacant units within the wider Market Quarter are now currently on the market and contracts are being exchanged at a rate. 

“Local commercial agents have told us the area is one of the top investment locations in Southport currently and we firmly believe this is down to the success of the Market.”

Kaizen is opening at Southport Market

The report also looks at future challenges faced across the hospitality industry, which Cllr Atkinson says will be monitored closely by Sefton Council as it continues to grow the Market space.

Cllr Atkinson said:

“A rise and fall in the popularity of staycations will have an effect on footfall, as does the ever increasing cost of goods and services as we all feel the impact of a cost of living crisis. 

“While some of these pressures cannot be fully mitigated against, we have put in place and will continue to develop a series of measures to encourage footfall in the area, ensuring that the Market remains a focal attraction for many years to come.”

People can find more information about Southport Market at www.southportmarket.com, follow southportmarket on Instagram, @spt_mkt on Twitter or Southport Market on Facebook.

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