Adur Markets relaunch a big success

The relaunch of Adur Markets has proved to be a big success with footfall increasing by up to twenty per cent as hundreds of people get a taste for excellent local produce.

Adur District Council took the decision to bring the three monthly markets - Lancing Village, Shoreham Farmers' and Shoreham Artisans' - under one banner in April, with the aim of giving greater exposure to each of the events.

After just a few months, the idea has gone down a treat - with footfall in Lancing increasing by twenty per cent as more and more people are drawn in by the goods on offer.

The hope is that Adur Markets will continue to grow in popularity, energising the district’s shopping areas on Saturday mornings while providing a platform to local producers.

Councillor Emma Evans, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “The Adur Markets programme in Shoreham and Lancing has been an undeniable success story, bringing big crowds into our town and village centres at weekends.

“From fresh produce to baked goods, artisan crafts to open-air entertainment, there’s something for everyone on offer at the monthly events.

“In particular, I’m delighted to see that the rebrand has had a real positive impact in Lancing, bringing in many more people to the village centre which is a great boost to new and existing traders.

“For those that have not had the chance to check out the Adur Markets yet, I urge them to come down and give it a try!”

The three markets take part monthly as follows:

·         Shoreham Farmers' Market, East Street - every second Saturday - 9am to 2pm

·         Lancing Village Market, North Road - every third Saturday - 9am to 1pm

·         Shoreham Artisans' Market, East Street - every fourth Saturday - 9am to 2pm

The rebranding saw the creation of a new Adur Markets tomato logo, as the fruit was a common crop grown in greenhouses up until the post-war period.

Fruit and veg are still on offer at all three markets but the produce continues to get more diverse - with small-batch gin producers, artisan bread makers and chocolatiers bringing their wares to Adur Markets.

In addition to a new logo, the rebranding included:

·         The relocation of Lancing market to a more central location in North Road;

·         A drive to support small lifestyle businesses by offering a free pitch for a trader's first market;

·         Keeping pitch fees at a competitive rate;

·         The introduction of Enterprise stalls where traders are supported with guidance on insurance and environmental health issues;

·         The creation of a one-stop Facebook/Web page listing events happening in all three markets

With the addition of the Councils’ markets officer John Kerr, who has proved to bring lots of energy and enthusiasm to the role, the future of Adur Markets looks bright.

For more details on the markets, including how you can apply for a stall, visit the council webpage.