Chester Market welcomes three new traders and looks forward to an exciting future

A seafood shack, a home furnishing stall and gourmet cake bakery are the latest new entrepreneurial traders to move into the award-winning Chester Market.

Despite the pandemic, demand for market stalls has been high and there is now a waiting list for any would-be traders looking to take their first steps or expand.

The Sandbar Seafood Shack has been opened by Martin Taylor, a former chef and dedicated surfer, who has a passion for serving the freshest and most exciting coastal street-food from around the world. Martin’s menu changes daily and includes fresh oysters shucked to order, fragrant mussels, soft-shell crab burgers and traditional fish soup.

Jonathan Mond is running the newly opened Len Brown Textiles stall and brings over 40 years of trading experience at Bolton Market, North Wales markets and the Ideal Home Exhibition. Specialising in a wide range of continental quilts and covers, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, and curtains.

Pastry Pédaleur offers French inspired gourmet pastries and desserts from ex-Chester Grosvenor hotel pastry chef Stephanie Lobo. Her handcrafted gourmet cakes and pastries offer the best of French patisserie using high quality seasonal and local ingredients all made from scratch in bespoke small batches from her market unit. Stephanie also offers vegan and gluten free options on prior request.

Plans for the new Chester Market, currently under construction as part of the Northgate development, are also advancing; with the trader recruitment process commencing in January to enable those existing and new traders selected for the new market ample time to prepare and plan their new stalls for when it opens in June 2022. 

Further details of the interior design will also be revealed in the coming weeks, keep abreast of the latest news and register your interest at: www.newchester.market

Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Louise Gittins said: “These are exciting times for Chester Market, both in its current home and its future home within the nearby Northgate development; I am delighted to welcome our new traders who will bring even more choice and vibrancy to the market. 

“The sheer choice and authenticity our foodie traders are truly remarkable – with ample socially distanced seating indoors and out, late nights on Fridays and Saturdays plus all our established butchers, grocery and general merchandise traders make Chester Market a thriving beacon of positivity for small businesses this Christmas.”

There are vacancies for new traders at the borough’s other markets in Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford; becoming a market trader is a low cost, low risk way of starting up in business with short term leases and very competitive rents available. Please contact markets@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for more details. Support and mentoring for new traders is also available from the Markets Team.

For general business support, including starting your own business, contact the Council’s Business support Team: business@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

The team is committed to support local businesses to survive, thrive and grow, particularly during the pandemic.

Pictured - Martin Taylor – Sandbar Seafood Shack.