Plans to restore the historic Southport Market to its former glory will be led by one of the region's leading architecture and interior design firms.
DV8 Designs will partner Sefton Council and the Dawnvale Group to retain the Victorian form of the famous Merseyside facility after being appointed to the project.

It will hope to focus on Southport's coastal influences, sourcing ingredients from local producers and offering an event space to create a social hub.
And drawing on inspiration from the seaside town's iconic locations such as the pier, Botanical Gardens and the Colonnades, the market will look to emulate the success of other popular UK and European food markets.



The market hall, which opened in 1857, is set to feature a ‘reclaimed’ aesthetic, drawing on the ornate ironwork and exposed brick within the venue already.
There are also plans to incorporate elements of a funfair into the designs including carousel horses and circus tent-style canvases.

How is if "former glory" when it's going to be something it hasn't been before?

The saying ‘you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’ll still be a pig’ springs to mind. Southport Indoor Market has been killed off by the high rents and a Draconian parking regime, both implemented by Sefton Council. The Market is dead, RIP.

I give it 6 months.

The market will only be successful if it has competition and a wide range, to get people to use it they need to hold the pop up street markets there and have a regular ' Market Day' with regular advertising.

How much is the council paying for these consultants?

retain the Victorian form of the famous Merseyside facility

Will they be time travelling? The Victorian structure was demolished after a fire and was rebuilt during George V's reign.

The Indoor Market was originally on Chapel Street - it is a pity that the Council are not listening to local people, especially since it is the Council who complain of insufficient funding constantly. The Council's concept is a loser. The money could have been spent far more wisely in reducing the stall rents and council costs to attract more people and competition. The Council are not business people - nor do they seem to be getting good advice, look at the latest reviews on The Strand for instance.

Originally Posted by said

The Indoor Market was originally on Chapel Street - it is a pity that the Council are not listening to local people, especially since it is the Council who complain of insufficient funding constantly. The Council's concept is a loser. The money could have been spent far more wisely in reducing the stall rents and council costs to attract more people and competition. The Council are not business people - nor do they seem to be getting good advice, look at the latest reviews on The Strand for instance.

Just out of interest, where about on Chapel St was the old market and when did it close?

Originally Posted by donkey22

Just out of interest, where about on Chapel St was the old market and when did it close?

Surely it was on Eastbank st before it was destroyed by fire.

Want to restore the Market to its former glory? Then drop the rent to allow traders to make a living and encourage shoppers to visit?

Originally Posted by cotton man

Surely it was on Eastbank st before it was destroyed by fire.

It's immediate predeccessor was.
There was also one on London St in the early 1800s

Just pull the place down and build a car park or something!

The town has LOTS of empty shops, and more cafes/eating places you can shake a stick at, it doesn't need any more. Sefton only have to look at the disaster that is Cambridge Walks - cant give the units away in there!


The new market could not even support a fish stall, a deli, and even more than one café, and Sefton in their 'wisdom' locates the pop-up market on Chapel St, instead of utilising the empty space inside the market and the road out side (Market St)

Dropping the rent is a no no.
That then becomes subsidising.
Had the footfall been 20,000+ as the
pratt consultants ( professionals) said.
(Should have been able to sue them.)
There wouldn't be a problem.

Originally Posted by ausard2

Dropping the rent is a no no.
That then becomes subsidising.

The rents have risen over the years, from affordable to ridiculous. All Shop keepers have said the same thing. Add to that the Business rates and traders are being squeezed out of business. It isn't subsidisation, it is reducing rents back to an affordable level. We all know Sefton Council are greedy, the state of the shopping streets prove that. Small businesses can't afford to trade in the Town Centre?