Artisans are in market to revive town centre
A NEW artisan market event is set to launch in a bid to help revive a town centre.
The Market Co, which runs events in Urmston and Wilmslow, will host its first Ashton Artisan Market at Market Square later this month.
It is hoped the market will breathe new life into the centre of Ashton-under-Lyne as it emerges from the pandemic - with the event to take place on the last Saturday of every month.
Denise Valente, director at The Market Co, said: “There’s nothing else like what we do in the area at the moment.
“We are encouraging traders from Tameside to get involved as well as some from our other markets.
“We are trying to keep things as local as possible.
“All the products have to meet our quality criteria and everything has to be handmade by the artisan that is selling it - whether that’s scones and bread or jewellery and arts.
“We are also going to bring in some really exciting street food and local musicians and it should be a really nice atmosphere and a good addition to the events taking place in Tameside as we move out of lockdown.”
Denise, who has been running artisan markets over the past 10 years, says there was a real enthusiasm from Tameside Council to launch the event in Ashton.
She believes it will give the town centre a boost - both on days the event is held and other weeks of the year.
Denise said: “High streets need people to return to them - especially after the pandemic, when people are going to be wary - so we need to give them a good reason to come.
“When we have held events footfall has skyrocketed - but more importantly, it highlights to people that might not go into town as often what else there is to offer, so they keep coming back at other times of the month.
“Go into the other towns we hold the market and you see coffee shops and restaurants take on extra staff - it brings in thousands of extra visitors.
“Sometimes businesses can be wary of what we are going to do before we launch, but when they see the response it’s a gift.” Denise hopes shoppers will be eager to see traders and their friends at the event as coronavirus restrictions continue to ease - and she insists the event will be Covid secure while the pandemic continues.
The first Ashton Artisan Market will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, April 24.