London offers lessons on how to run markets

I HAVE recently returned from visits to Brixton and Broadway markets in London and was amazed by the transformation of the areas surrounding them from depressed and dying not very long ago, to booming with people, lively and cutting edge.

Why? It was all down to the rebirth of their market not run by their council. I urge readers to visit.

Both were failing retail/ depressed residential areas until, as I understand it, community interest companies were formed by groups of private talented individuals to create an attraction at each that people would want to come for a day out from far and wide.

Before permission to trade is given by the company, sellers – all independent – are selected before a panel in which they demonstrate their goods/food. Many are turned down and there is a waiting list of 200 approved traders.

This gave both markets a critical sizeable mass of exceptional quality, largely food sellers all in one spot together, so one business was not on its own in the wrong location. It collectively looked amazing as a market. No mass of ubiquitous unappealing clothes racks on show or empty units.

In the case of Broadway 
Market, I was admiring an artisan bakery stall and informed they supplied bread to Fortnum & Mason.

Brixton Market is open late, I think I went on a Wednesday evening, with a real buzzing atmosphere of independent pizza restaurants and other independent cafes, wine bars and restaurants all of a very high standard. There is even a local currency, the Brixton pound. Above all, unlike Leeds, there is an absence of lager louts, so there is a wide diversity of people able to enjoy, without intimidation, a civilised night. I am not sure when the Leeds Kirkgate Market consultation ends, but the chance to run Kirkgate Market as a community interest company and bring these benefits seen in London may be gone very soon.

I hope this is food for thought.