The Great British Market Awards 2025, hosted by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) on Thursday, 30th January in Birmingham, celebrated the vibrant contributions of markets across the UK to local communities, tourism, and economic regeneration. The awards, recognised excellence in markets from historic icons to innovative newcomers, showcasing their role as essential community hubs.
Among the standout winners, Shrewsbury Indoor Market retained its title as Britain’s Favourite Market for the third consecutive year, reflecting its unique blend of heritage, vibrant trading, and forward-thinking leadership. Other major accolades went to Tavistock Pannier Market (Best Large Indoor Market) and Borough Market (Best Large Food Market), with their remarkable histories and commitment to innovation and sustainability earning them top honours.
David Preston, Chief Executive of NABMA, commented: “This year’s awards have once again highlighted the incredible innovation and resilience within our market communities. From centuries-old traditions to cutting-edge initiatives, these winners and nominees embody the very best of British markets. Congratulations to all those recognised this year.”
The 2025 awards placed a strong emphasis on NABMA’s MarketsFirst National Campaign, celebrating markets that have demonstrated creativity, inclusivity, and sustainability in line with the campaign’s priorities. NABMA extends its gratitude to NMTF and its Chief Executive Joe Harrison for their support, as well as to Market Place and Blachere Illumination, headline sponsors of the awards and conference respectively.
Highly Commended Markets
NABMA awarded Highly Commended Certificates to several markets for their outstanding roles in their communities. These markets demonstrated exceptional commitment to innovation, quality, and local engagement:
- Warwick Outdoor Market
- Nantwich Markets
- Hebden Bridge Outdoor Market
- Longsight Outdoor Market
- Wrexham Street Market
- Fleetwood Indoor Market
Award Winners
Below are the winners of the Great British Market Awards 2025:
Best Large Indoor Market: Tavistock Pannier Market
A market with a history dating back to 1105, Tavistock Pannier Market is a cornerstone of its community, offering diverse trades, fresh local produce, and opportunities for start-up businesses. With 90% daily occupancy for over 20 years, this dynamic market is a true reflection of high street success.
Best Small Indoor Market: Harborough Market
This market has undergone a remarkable transformation, achieving 100% occupancy while fostering strong engagement with traders and local events. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and innovative initiatives, Harborough Market is a shining example of resilience and reinvention.
Best Large Outdoor Market: Whitechapel Road Market
Rich in culture and history, this iconic market has embraced innovation to support young entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. Its commitment to sustainability and community partnerships, including free health checks for traders, makes it a standout destination.
Best Small Outdoor Market: Columbia Road Flower Market
With a legacy spanning generations, this Sunday market is a staple of its community and a major visitor attraction. Its zero-emission initiatives and strong trader relationships exemplify its progressive and sustainable approach.
Best Community/Parish Market: Joint Winners
- Stanley Park Market: A new market bringing regeneration and pride to its community with over 100 stalls and a focus on start-ups and fresh produce.
- Bridlington Market: Revitalised by volunteer management, this seaside market has boosted footfall and hosted events like an ice trail attracting 40,000 visitors.
Best Large Speciality Market: Broadway Market, Hackney
Known for its enterprise, diversity, and support for young traders, this market is a hub of cultural engagement. Its initiatives include a plastic-free policy and a skill-building programme for traders.
Best Small Speciality Market: Bolsover Artisan Market
This monthly market has grown rapidly, becoming a highlight of its town’s event calendar. Showcasing quality artisan products, it provides an invaluable platform for local traders and start-ups.
Best Food Market – Large: Borough Market
With a history spanning 1,000 years, Borough Market continues to champion sustainability, ethical sourcing, and community values. In 2024 alone, it provided 80,000 meals for local charities.
Best Food Market – Small: Bath Green Park Station Market
As the UK’s oldest farmers’ market, this weekly event promotes local, sustainable food production and serves as a cornerstone of its community.
Best Wholesale Market: New Spitalfields Market
This market champions sustainability and community outreach, distributing 250,000 meals to vulnerable individuals in 2024. Its commitment to greener practices and industry innovation sets a benchmark for wholesale markets.
Best Market Attraction: South Molton Pannier Market
This twice-weekly market is the heartbeat of its community, supporting local charities and businesses while creating a vibrant and bustling shopping destination.
Outstanding Market Achievement Award 2025: Belfast Christmas Market
Marking its 20th anniversary, Belfast Christmas Market has become a cultural and economic cornerstone, attracting 1.2 million visitors annually and contributing £60 million to the local economy. NABMA also recognises Allan Hartwell of Market Place for his visionary leadership.
Britain’s Favourite Market 2025: Shrewsbury Indoor Market
For the third consecutive year, Shrewsbury Indoor Market was crowned Britain’s Favourite Market following an online vote with over 40,000 participants. Its vibrant mix of traders, historic setting, and commitment to innovation continue to captivate visitors and residents alike.
Citations. (Can be used as quotes from David Preston, CEO of NABMA)
Highly Commended
There have been so many nominations highlighting the amazing contributions that markets and markets people make in towns and cities. In recognition of some markets, that just failed to secure one of the national awards, the panel has agreed to award a number of highly commended certificates. These are presented to markets that NABMA consider play outstanding roles in their local communities and have demonstrated innovation, commitment and gone that extra mile to deliver a quality markets service. These awards are presented to
- Warwick Outdoor Market
- Nantwich Markets
- Hebden Bridge Outdoor Market
- Longsight Outdoor Market
- Wrexham Street Market
- Fleetwood Indoor Market
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Great British Market Awards 2025
Best Large Indoor Market – Tavistock Pannier Market
This award is presented to a charter market with a proud history dating back to 1105. The market has a loyal core of five-day traders supplemented by a changing theme of specialist trades. It has a substantial food offer with an additional selection of cafés providing freshly produced fresh local produce. As the market has evolved then perimeter shops have widened their appeal. The market provides an extensive programme of specialist events linked to the adjoining Town Hall. Importantly, it provides an affordable and accessible avenue for start-up businesses that often lead to a high street presence. The market is also the home of a high street bank. Daily occupancy has not dropped below 90% in the last 20 years that is a testament to its supportive and professional management. The market is dynamic, busy, at the heart of the town centre and its success is regarding as a measure as to the performance of the high street itself.
Best Small Indoor Market – Harborough Market
In the last two years this market has experienced substantial change in both its environment and occupancy. It now enjoys 100% occupancy and promotes many events to drive footfall. The market has strong management, and it offers an all-round package of promotions and events. The market has built a positive and supportive engagement with its traders and is a great supporter for the National Young Traders Market. It has drawn down considerable external funding, matched with local capital funding, to make improvements to the ageing building in which it operates. The market has enjoyed rebranding; it has a growing social media presence. It also works with a local comedy festival to create a district wide weekend of comedy in different local venues, with the market being a focal point. The market is transformed into a 300-seat venue for various performances. This market is regarded as a flagship for its council operator. With a small team of four personnel, it has achieved much and looks forward to its future with great excitement
Best Large Outdoor Market – Whitechapel Road Market
This iconic market is steeped in its local culture and history and substantially contributes to both the local economic and social prosperity. The local area has experienced substantial transformation where local partnerships and funding bids have been highly successful. Public realm investment is considerable, and new stalls have been provided to alleviate historic and complicated storage issues. Change has provided a consistent design to give a renewed market identity. Building on the heritage of the market, then development in the local area and food have become exciting additions to the market. A successful campaign to attract new traders witnessed nearly 60 interested participants signing onto a business course. This has paved the way for supporting new business start-ups as well as encouraging young entrepreneurship with a quarter of attendees being under 35 years old. The market has also worked in partnership with a GP care group bringing free health checks to traders during their working day.
Best Small Outdoor Market – Columbia Road Flower Market
This is a market established in 1869 that attracts customers from around the world. It is a major visitor attraction and a staple of its community that also significantly benefits the local shops and the economy. It is a Sunday market with a one million footfall each year and a diversity of trade. It has family businesses passing down to 4th and fifth generations. It boasts an 18 year waiting list; a trader own website and extensive local council social media ensuring that this is an iconic attraction and the place to go to every Sunday morning. The council have partnered with the neighbouring borough to introduce zero emission network initiatives of delivery of products through cargo bikes from market traders and local business. The market has excellent management, is a true partnership between operator and its traders and a good place to be each Sunday.
Best Community/Parish Market – Joint
There is a joint award in this category.
The joint winner of Best Community Market is Stanley Park Market
The first is to a new market established by a City Council as part of its regeneration programme looking to where new markets could add value to the community and offer start-up business opportunities. This market of 100 plus stalls is located on a Match Day car park in an area of empty shops and boarded up buildings awaiting redevelopment. It recognises the lack of fresh produce locally alongside opportunities for residents to socialise within their own community. This is the first new market in its city for a decade. It reflects community pride, embodies the spirit of the local area, is a central hub, promotes the local culture and has strong trader support with an influx of start-ups and young traders. This market is enhancing community well-being; providing activities and entertainment and promoting skill building. It is improving the local image, boosting neighbourhood appeal and importantly reinforcing positive feelings about the neighbourhood and its future potential
The joint winner of Best Community Market is Bridlington Market
This award goes to another market that is reinventing itself. Now operated by a Market Cooperative with significant volunteer management the market enjoys nearly 100% trader attendance and has a growing appeal from young traders. The market has secured government funding for project delivery and events, including an ice trail attracting over 40,000 visitors. The success of the market across this seaside town on the east coast has increased footfall and helped support many local businesses and its High Street. A Christmas two-day event, and light switch on, packed the town creating a real community attraction for residents and visitors alike. A further enhanced series of food festivals to supplement market events is planned for 2025. Management, change and innovation have seen a historic market tradition reinvented and come back to life. The Market Cooperative consider its future is exciting, onwards and upwards.
Best Large Speciality Market – Broadway Market, Hackney
This is a market of full capacity, committed to continuous improvement that embraces new traders through a rotation of temporary stalls allowing emerging businesses to gain exposure and contribute to a dynamic retail mix. Success is achieved by retaining loyal traders and attracting new talent that together create a sustainable market that celebrates enterprise, diversity and collaboration. This market provides additional value by supporting the local economy, strengthening community connections and creating opportunities for employment and cultural engagement. The market promotes themed events; has innovative social media; and a commitment to engaging with young people and encouraging entrepreneurship. In 2025 the market aims to welcome over 100 young traders, expanding its role as a platform for emerging talent growth. Initiatives and partnerships include being a single use plastic free market and being part of a Trading Places programme for skill development thereby empowering traders to enhance their business capabilities.
Best Small Speciality Market – Bolsover Artisan Market
This is a seasonal monthly Artisan Market launched in 2022. The original handful of stalls has now reached a capacity for each event. It is now a highlight in the Council’s annual calendar of events. Its offering is diverse, rotated to provide the community and visitors with a rich variety of artisan sales and food and drink. It showcases a selection of quality makers, independent traders and exceptional products. It has a focus on helping to revitalise the town centre. The Council has invested in marketing and appointed an events coordinator to help ensure widespread awareness and community engagement. After just two years the market provides an opportunity for progression from start up to existing town and artisan markets. To meet a longer-term vision and its commitment to markets, the council has secured a property of business units to provide a seamless progression from start-up business to full-time trading.
Best Food Market – Large – Borough Market
The award for Best Large Food Market goes to a market with a 1,000-year proud history. Its charity status and committed volunteer trustees ensure a deep-rooted commitment to serve its local community and surrounding areas. In 2024, some 80,000 meals were provided for local charities. The market works with schools and a school food programme has resulted in over 56,000 children being reached, including some having the opportunity to trade at the market itself. This market is an exceptional shopping experience; a visitor destination driven by sustainability, ethical sourcing and community values. The market has a commitment to fostering a fair and sustainable food culture. Their policy outlines clear principles relating to animal welfare, transparency and social and economic sustainability, including Living Wage accreditation ensuring that both traders and the market itself uphold high standards in all areas. Traders as selected must prioritise sustainability, traceability and minimal waste. This is a food market and a world leader in how a market can balance is economic, social and environmental responsibilities.
Best Food Market – Small – Bath Green Park Station Market
This is a market with 100% occupancy. It is located in the square of a former Victorian Railway Station and stands as a beacon of local sustainable and artisan food production. It is the oldest farmers’ market in the United Kingdom, established in 1997 in response to the Local Agenda 21. Originally it operated monthly but is now a weekly event and a cornerstone of the local community and its food culture. It has featured in numerous TV programmes and operated and supported the local community throughout the Covid pandemic. The market is a platform for education and engagement with producers, consumers, local organisations, charities and schools promoting healthy eating, environmental responsibilities and food education. In an era of food provenance and ethical sourcing then this market stands as a champion in promoting these important values.
Best Wholesale Market – New Spitalfields Market
This is a market with one million customers each year and 130 merchants that actively engage with the community championing sustainability, waste food waste initiatives and continually adapting to industry trends. It has a partnership with City Harvest, a charitable organisation, that has integrated rescued food into distribution networks which then reaches shelters, community centres and struggling individuals resulting in 250,000 meals being distributed to assist its city’s most vulnerable in 2024. The market continues to work to a sustainable future encouraging vendors, buyers and employees to adopt greener transportation options, reducing carbon emissions and promoting a cleaner environment. This market continues to be successful by collaboration with tenants to address waste reduction, take on environmental initiatives, improve health and safety outcomes and offering and effectively communicating the case for change.
Best Market Attraction – South Molton Pannier Market
This year the judging panel unanimously agreed to recognise a twice a week market with 100% occupancy. The market is unrivalled and the quality and variety of its produce and businesses within the local area is constantly held up as an example of what a successful traditional market should offer. Retention of traders has been outstanding and a waiting list of more than 100 local businesses now wish to trade which has led to the creation of specialist markets, including popular food festivals. This market is seen as the heart of its community. It plays an integral part in the success of local businesses in the town, many of which have had to increase their staffing levels on market days, and also their own opening hours, to support market events. The market supports many local charities as well as smaller community groups and schools. Footfall has increased year on year and market days are a hub of activity and promote a positive local shopping experience. The operator believes the success of the market stems from the contentment and relationship it shares with its traders. A small team of part-time staff are dedicated, approachable and are held in the highest esteem, both within the market itself, and importantly within the local community.
Outstanding Market Achievement Award 2025 – Belfast Christmas Market
This is a special award infrequently presented by NABMA. The judging panel believe however that this year one market is worthy of this highest accolade in these annual industry awards. It is an award that recognises Belfast Christmas Market, a jewel of the city’s festive calendar that proudly last month celebrated 20 years of bringing Christmas magic to life. The award-winning market has become a vital part of Belfast’s cultural and economic landscape, attracting visitors from near and far and creating a memorable visitor experience.
It is also recognises the involvement of Market Place, and their Managing Director, Allan Hartwell for his inspiration, leadership and delivery of this visitor destination during each of those years.
Belfast Christmas Market is regarded as one of the most diverse and multicultural markets in Europe. Each year, it draws an incredible 1.2 million visitors, who come to enjoy its unique blend of international and local offerings. This influx of visitors translates into a massive economic boost for the city, with an estimated £60 million generated annually, making it a cornerstone of Belfast’s seasonal economy.
As the Belfast Christmas Market celebrates 20 years, it stands as a testament to the power of tradition, community, and economic growth. The Channel 4 documentary “The Secrets of the Christmas Market” offered a behind-the-scenes look at the organisers and vendors who bring the festive spirit. NABMA applauds Belfast Christmas Market and the team that make it possible. Importantly we acknowledge the vision, leadership and passion of Allan Hartwell for the impact he has made on the City of Belfast over the last years and the Christmas joy that his vision has brought to generations of residents and visitors.
Britain’s Favourite Market for the third consecutive year is Shrewsbury Indoor Market.
Since the launch of the 2025 on line voting we have published regular updates as week by week the votes came in. When voting closed before Christmas over 40,000 votes had been recorded.
Year on year this competition demonstrates the value and pride that towns and cities place in their local market and the innovation and diversity that applies in modern market management. Our voting demonstrates a trust, pride and a recognition of a markets importance within the day to day life of their communities.
The public vote for Britain’s Favourite Market has chosen a market known locally as a unique food & drink and shopping destination that offers a vibrant and eclectic fusion of the hand crafted and the hard to find. It has over 60 traders and is a market located in a building of architectural interest. The market is part of the proud history of its town, its present and clearly regarded by voters, residents and visitors as part its future. The market has respected leadership, is not frightened of change and continually seeks to evolve and provide exciting business and start up opportunities.