Chester Market wins regional Taste of Cheshire Award

The new Chester Market has been recognised in the annual Marketing Cheshire awards, which celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in the region’s visitor economy.

In selecting Chester Market, the judges praised how the new market represents a fresh and dynamic Taste of Cheshire, which celebrates the ethnic diversity of our community, within a unique ‘modern traditional’ market offering a vibrant choice of authentic global foods, produce and goods all under one roof.

The market’s 15 award-winning and passionate food and beverage traders include authentic Thai, Bangladeshi, Mexican and vegan street-food, a seafood shack, French patisserie, fresh pasta kitchen, Polish inspired café, Neapolitan pizzas, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream and an innovative combination of a traditional English café by day and a Mediterranean bistro in the evening.

Joe Earnshaw co-owner of Big Lola’s Mexican street food stall said:

“Winning this award is a brilliant achievement, it's been an incredible journey since opening in Chester Market and we're hugely grateful to be part of this thriving and award-winning market; a huge well done to the whole community of talented food and beverage operators who work together to offer an innovative and fantastic service to our customers every day.”

Already a big hit with residents, the market is now becoming recognised as a key part of the region’s growing visitor economy worth almost £4 billion a year, as visitors seek out unique venues and experiences for informal dining and fresh produce in an award-winning social space.

In planning the new market, the Council positively embraced the seismic challenges of the decline in traditional high streets, with a move towards a more experiential food and retail approach, learning from successful markets globally to focus on a strong and varied food and fresh produce offer.

Extensive consultation with stakeholders ensured that the new market is inclusive, accessible and ethnically diverse, with many of the food traders offering authentic cuisine from their country of birth or family heritage.

The judges also praised how the market traders have created a community of inter-trading and peer support to nurture one another and source from local Cheshire producers such as Peckforton Dairy, Weetwood Ales, Forest Gin and local grocery wholesalers.

Pictured - Adele Thomas, Chester Market Manager centre, with the award alongside some of the market’s food and produce traders.