Southport indoor market revamp.

[whiplash]

It will not work.Food and drink event venue.
Will be another empty building.

[said]

It will not work.Food and drink event venue.
Will be another empty building.

I have already said the same. The council are always claiming that they are short of money for services - yet not more than just six years ago they spent £3 million on the Indoor Market. Now they intend to spend a further £4 million on it - a complete waste of money. The council do not have a clue on trading. They do not need to spend any more on the market, they need to introduce a gradient rent system, which is very low for the first year and then increasing as footfall increases. Priority for stall places should be those who are unemployed and who can suggest ideas for retail stalls in the market and put them into practice - there are a lot of business people who are unemployed. I would suggest that the market stalls sell items such as, back packs, purses, bags, earphones, computer parts, hobby paints and equipment, beads and jewellery parts, fishing equipment, bicycle parts, materials etc., DIY items..........the greater the variety the greater the footfall.
The town is completely saturated with food and drink places - the Indoor market is not in the centre of town and it will not attract visitors. The only people it would attract would be those who would normally go to another venue in town.
A little bit of imagination goes a long way and the trend is now for these small units.

[crocodile35]

Indoor markets worked in the 70's they do not work today. Move on do something else with the place and put it out of it's misery.

[said]

Indoor markets worked in the 70's they do not work today. Move on do something else with the place and put it out of it's misery.

That is where you are wrong! The trend is for small traders and specialist goods. People no longer like to wander up and down long aisles trying to find what they want - they need to be able to go to one place, make a purchase and go! The market can be a success for those with imagination and foresight - providing they are given the best odds by a reduction in rent which would increase as foot fall increases.

[local]

I have already said the same. The council are always claiming that they are short of money for services - yet not more than just six years ago they spent £3 million on the Indoor Market. Now they intend to spend a further £4 million on it - a complete waste of money. The council do not have a clue on trading. They do not need to spend any more on the market, they need to introduce a gradient rent system, which is very low for the first year and then increasing as footfall increases. Priority for stall places should be those who are unemployed and who can suggest ideas for retail stalls in the market and put them into practice - there are a lot of business people who are unemployed. I would suggest that the market stalls sell items such as, back packs, purses, bags, earphones, computer parts, hobby paints and equipment, beads and jewellery parts, fishing equipment, bicycle parts, materials etc., DIY items..........the greater the variety the greater the footfall.
The town is completely saturated with food and drink places - the Indoor market is not in the centre of town and it will not attract visitors. The only people it would attract would be those who would normally go to another venue in town.
A little bit of imagination goes a long way and the trend is now for these small units.

Just out of interest have you ever been self employed ?

[seivad]

Looking at the artist's impression, I can't imagine that it would entice anyone to have a meal in the market. Those long tables and chairs remind me of school dining rooms in the 50s. They're calling it a "food, drink and event venue", when in fact it's nothing more than the equivalent of the food courts you see in every mall... and has about as much ambiance.
Don't throw good money after bad.

[local]

Looking at the artist's impression, I can't imagine that it would entice anyone to have a meal in the market. Those long tables and chairs remind me of school dining rooms in the 50s. They're calling it a "food, drink and event venue", when in fact it's nothing more than the equivalent of the food courts you see in every mall... and has about as much ambiance.
Don't throw good money after bad.

You have though pointed out the missing link "the mall" or the draw.

[said]

Just out of interest have you ever been self employed ?

Yes, all the time!

[birdbath]

Looks similar to the kind of layout in the Market House, Altrincham which is popular with the locals. That building is surrounded on all sides by a more pleasant environment than our market building
Anyway, I don't think that it would work here as Southport lacks the buzz that attracts a similar target age group.

[Lamparilla]

Lots more comments here:

https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/n...t-55038832.htm

[local]

Yes, all the time!

I just wonderered how you came up with this;


there are a lot of business people who are unemployed. I would suggest that the market stalls sell items such as, back packs, purses, bags, earphones, computer parts, hobby paints and equipment, beads and jewellery parts, fishing equipment, bicycle parts, materials etc., DIY items..........the greater the variety the greater the footfall.



I would respectfully suggest an unemployed pusiness person has a fundamental flaw.

Then there is a list of things you can easily get hold of elsewhere and if you choose delivered to your door.


The food court at least taps into the trend to eat out but misses out the reason for being there.

Does the council realise that throwing £4 million of others money probably equates to £2 million of real world value.

That level of investment means the rents will probably be too high for the current climate,

Putting Sefton Council anywhere near it spells doom they can't even work out when litter bins need emptying.

[LeftyFailsAgain]

The priority should be Lord Street, if there is any money to be spent. Frankly, no-one comes to Southport for our little hidden-away market hall.

[Hamble]

Southport Market is doomed as long as there are coach trips to a market
delivering all that shoppers want.


https://www.visitnorthwest.com/malls/bury-market/

[*concerned*]

Never understood why Sefton located a weekly OUTDOOR market on Chapel St, instead of utilising both the EMPTY indoor stalls and Market St for outdoor stalls ?

[Lamparilla]

The priority should be Lord Street, if there is any money to be spent. Frankly, no-one comes to Southport for our little hidden-away market hall.

I think most people would agree with you.

However, as I said on the other thread, Sefton are not making a business decision here - it's a face-saving exercise. They seem to be desperately in search of a 'magic bullet' that will transform this white elephant into a unicorn. If they find this 'unique' formula, they could sell it all around the world to all those towns and cities where bricks and mortar establishments are failing.

I don't want to see anything in Southport town centre fail (apart from Britannia ) but there comes a time in any commercial enterprise that you may have to pull the plug.

Having said that, Sefton seems to bestow the kiss of death on their business ventures - the Atkinson cafe was appalling, but once it was taken over by A Great Little Place, its fortunes have been transformed.