Southport Market is a step closer to being transformed into a new ‘culture experience’ with work set to start on Monday 2nd November with the reopening scheduled for Spring 2021.

The incredible £1.4 million redesign and refurbishment of the town centre market site will create a modern food and drinks space, along with a flexible events and market area with the ability to host casual markets. The new look market will be an all year-round attraction with space for up to ten delicious food and drinks units.

Acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of Southport and surrounding area, and providing a vital boost to the local economy and continued regeneration of Southport's market quarter and King Street, the market will also include units for fresh produce stalls, including the popular Blackhurst Butchers, who has been trading in the Market for over 20 years and will be moving into a brand-new unit.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:
“I’m delighted that work on this exciting project has finally started, we know just how much of an important asset Southport Market is to the town.

“This project is a cornerstone of the Southport Town Deal, but we’ve also managed to secure additional external funding to completely transform the building, which shows real commitment from Sefton Council.

“I’m thrilled that already a number of new food and drink traders have already signed up to be a part of the new Southport Market, creating new job opportunities and business start-ups, and demonstrating a real confidence in the scheme.

“This ambitious and exciting project demonstrates the growing confidence in the Town and builds on the further good news of ‘Southport Cove’ announced last week.

“What an exciting time for Southport and for Sefton!”

Who writes this drivel ? "A catalyst for the regeneration of Southport" it's obvious if you want to regenerate anywhere you need to open up the roads and reduce the cost of out of town visitors coming to the town i.e lower parking costs.

As for the so called Market, it will be a food hall, nothing more nothing less and with the amount of eateries already in the town struggling to survive i can't see this being any different, no doubt it justifies the jobs of a few people within sefton council who will then deny all knowledge when it fails again.

Originally Posted by Ric

Who writes this drivel ? "A catalyst for the regeneration of Southport" it's obvious if you want to regenerate anywhere you need to open up the roads and reduce the cost of out of town visitors coming to the town i.e lower parking costs.

As for the so called Market, it will be a food hall, nothing more nothing less and with the amount of eateries already in the town struggling to survive i can't see this being any different, no doubt it justifies the jobs of a few people within sefton council who will then deny all knowledge when it fails again.

Seems to me Southport’s biggest problem seems to be the negativity amongst the residents!

The Baltic Market in Liverpool has been a massive success and at the time all the naysayers were moaning how it would be a waste of money, no one would go there as it’s to far out from the City Centre, there’s no public transport or parking etc.

Unfortunately, across the whole of the country, high streets are suffering, (mainly by all accounts to internet shopping). This may be the sort of thing that makes the difference.

Originally Posted by Sap33

Seems to me Southport’s biggest problem seems to be the negativity amongst the residents!

The Baltic Market in Liverpool has been a massive success and at the time all the naysayers were moaning how it would be a waste of money, no one would go there as it’s to far out from the City Centre, there’s no public transport or parking etc.

Unfortunately, across the whole of the country, high streets are suffering, (mainly by all accounts to internet shopping). This may be the sort of thing that makes the difference.

Southport's biggest problem is the council. Bury, Bolton and Fleetwood markets are thriving for being just that, a market and not a food hall and to my knowledge none have received multi million pound makeovers every few years.

Looks just like a works canteen.....Now, 'Cantinas' might be ok in Portugal, but not so sure about Southport.

Originally Posted by Ric

Southport's biggest problem is the council. Bury, Bolton and Fleetwood markets are thriving for being just that, a market and not a food hall and to my knowledge none have received multi million pound makeovers very few years.

I can’t comment on Fleetwood market, but Bolton and Bury markets are considerably bigger than Southport’s, which I would expect makes a difference.

The Baltic Market isn’t really a market, it’s more a bar area in the middle with tables around with a selection of things to eat around the edge, in the old Cains brewery.
No one expected it to work, but it has, which has led to massive growth and investment in the surrounding area.

Originally Posted by Ric

Southport's biggest problem is the council. Bury, Bolton and Fleetwood markets are thriving for being just that, a market and not a food hall and to my knowledge none have received multi million pound makeovers very few years.

I'd say that the biggest problem is parking, followed by the size of the market building. It can't sell the same range of goods as say, Bury market. It didn't when it was a fully working market, it certainly won't when there's a canteen plonked in the centre.

Don't get me wrong, I truly hope it works. I'll give it a shot myself when it opens. I just don't see it as such a huge attraction that the footfall outweighs the cost.

Fingers crossed it succeeds.

I can see this taking off tbh, but I do think it’s success will rest upon the diversity and quality of the food that’s going to be on offer by the various businesses it will be attracting.
There’s nothing else similar in town and the small size of the premises should mean it’s better suited to an establishment like this rather than throwing more money at it in its current set up.