The new Market within Chester Northgate has now welcomed over seven million customers since opening in early November 2022.
Coupled with a host of awards, the new market has helped transform the city centre and become one of the most visited markets in the country, now recognised as a benchmark for new markets under development by other Councils across the country.
The market is also in the running for the title of Britain’s Favourite Market, voting is open to the public at: https://nabma.com/MyFavouriteMarket2026/ until 12th December.
Over the past three years the market’s thirty traders have racked up some impressive statistics, including:
- The Sandbar Seafood Shack has shucked 19,000 fresh oysters
- Digby & Champ have sold over 100,000 packs of dog treats
- Cheezy Bandits have grated 10 tonnes of mature cheddar cheese
- Chester Phone Repair have fixed over 2,000 smartphones
- Lockwood & Co. bar have poured nearly 400,000 pints of draught beer and lager
- Pop Specs have dispensed over 10,000 pairs of glasses
- Plus, The Crystal Hut have claimed the title of the biggest single purchase of a £1,500 amethyst geode.
The market has helped nurture many small businesses, including Nicky Groves and Andy Selwood of Cheezy Bandits and Sandwich’d, who were one of the first traders selected to open at the market.
Nicky said: “We went from working in hospitality, meeting, getting married and applying during the Covid lockdown with an idea for our own food stall. We started our own business with Cheezy Bandits and then a year ago opened our second stall with Sandwich’d. The market’s success has enabled us to grow and expand our business and take on more staff, we are so grateful for the support and opportunity, and we like to think we repaid the faith the Council showed in us.”
See more of Nicky and Andy’s story in a short video:
The market has recently welcomed a new trader, Sam Joseph Chocolates, founded by husband-and-wife team of Sam and Claire Pugh selling a wide range of handcrafted chocolates. Both with a background as pastry chefs in hotels and restaurants they shared a passion for chocolate and started their business in 2014. Initially selling via street markets and then at Altrincham Market, they now have a production kitchen in Chester and live locally.
Sam said: “We are delighted to open our stall at Chester Market and join the wonderful community of traders. Using the finest ingredients, our handmade chocolates are a truly indulgent experience, perfect for spoiling yourself or gifting a taste of luxury to someone special.”
Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said: “I am incredibly proud of the Council’s achievements in planning and delivering the new Chester Market, it has become an unbelievable success story and exceeded our expectations; huge congratulations to all the traders, staff and customers for helping us create such a magnificent reinvention of a city centre market.”
For more details see www.chester.market
