Market forces: meet the traders at the Guildhall
Bath’s Guildhall Market is a unique and fascinating place.
It is the oldest shopping venue in the city and is set in a beautiful 19th-century building.
The market literally has everything under one historic roof – from fashion to hardware, pet food to party supplies.
But it is the local traders that really make it special, keeping loyal customers coming back year after year and attracting tourists with the appeal of hyper-local shopping.
Nearly all of the stalls are owneroperated in a time when increasing proportions of the high street have been taken over by chains.
Some of the traders are new on the scene, but others have been in place for more than 30 years.
Here are their faces, their stories and why they love being part of the Guildhall “family”.
Kanta and Michele Dicorato, M & K Hardware/electrical Wife and husband owners Kanta and Michele Dicorato have traded in the Guildhall for more than three decades.
They now have two large sections of the market – one for electrical goods and the other for hardware. Mrs Dicorato said: “We’ve been here 34 years – we were young when we started.
“When we first started our children were really young and we had just the little bit for electrical.
“And then the recession hit in the late 80s and we were losing money. There was five hardware shops in Bath and they all closed down. As soon as we opened the hardware section we did much better, as people needed somewhere to go.
“The children grew up in the market and one of my sons helps us now.
“The atmosphere is lovely here. Our customers have been so loyal to us, supporting a local business. Other businesses come to us as well.”
It’s a favour Mrs Dicorato tries to pass on.
She said: “I try to only buy from family-run businesses so sometimes our prices aren’t quite as competitive.
“But I’m about supporting small business all the way down the line.”
Michel Lemoine, Nibbles
Mr Lemoine is a familiar face in the Guildhall as he has supported Nibbles’ owner Stephane Gouzin for 20-odd years.
The stall sells a wide choice of cheeses and delicatessen meats.
Mr Lemoine said: “It is very vibrant here with very lovely people. Everybody works together.
“It has a good atmosphere, especially with Christmas coming.
“It brings the world a bit closer together.”
Jane Dersuniyelioglu, The Bath Bazaar
Mrs Dersuniyelioglu is new on the scene, having just opened The Bath Bazaar with her husband Hidir on October 26.
They already have a high street store, but selling Turkish lights, ceramics and metal work, the Guildhall seemed the perfect location for them.
Mrs Dersuniyelioglu said: “We have got a shop already in Northumberland Place and this came up on the market and we thought it was suitable as it is more like a Turkish bazaar.
“It really adds to the market as it is something a bit different.
“We have had a lot of good feedback from other market traders.”
Sark Kenny, Bath Leather Goods
Mr Kenny has owned Bath Leather Goods inside the market for five years and a stall outside for 10 years before that.
He said: “We make everything we sell and our speciality is belts.
“We make them on site to size and to order.
“We get a lot of return business.
We keep the quality high so people come back.
The leather goods are crafted in a little glass-fronted workshop behind their stall, where customers can see the work in action.
Mr Kenny said: “Customers usually want to come in, they are welcome. It is a great environment. The building’s good for starters – historic and beautifully lit. “It is the hub of Bath, really. “Everybody gets on. It is all owner-operators, which is rare even in Bath.
“I have a great little business but I cannot afford to be on the high street, so I think it is great we have this place.”
Sharon Bailey, Guildhall Pet Supplies
Ms Bailey has worked at Guildhall Pet Supplies for six months and already feels part of the Guildhall “family”.
The stall sells all kinds of things for pets, including food and toys, and most customer requests can be ordered in.
Ms Bailey said: “The store has been in the market for a long time moving about – at least 10 years, if not a lot longer.
“Everybody’s really friendly, it’s like a big family really.
“I get to see dogs every day – I have my loyal customers who drag their owners in.”
Husni El Sadder, Guildhall Barber
Mr El Sadder has owned his barber shop in The Guildhall for 10 years. Before that he has had a couple of other businesses in Bath, including a Lebanese restaurant in Margaret’s Buildings.
But it doesn’t look like he will be moving on any time soon.
“I love it here. It is a nice community,” he said. “It is a bit quirky and there is a nice atmosphere.
“We are well established here and I have a good clientele base.”
Ciara Baker and Alice Wilkins, The Market Cafe
Ciara has worked at The Market
Cafe for nine years and her friend and colleague Alice for two.
They offer a wide range of cafe classics, serving all day.
“I’m the niece of the owner so I have no choice,” Ciara said.
“The atmosphere is great here. It is a little community.
“We have a good base of regulars but get many tourists as well.”
Rebecca Cunningham, Bath Humbug Shop
Rebecca took over Bath Humbug Shop seven months ago, but she used to work for the previous owner, who had the shop for 15 to 20 years.
Explaining why she chose to take over, she said: “It is a lovely place to work. I knew the business and it was a good opportunity to be my own boss.
“The sweets are traditional and old school.
“I would say our trade is 70 per cent tourists now.”
Sue Clarke, Dufflebag
Sue has worked at Dufflebag for 10 years and does a couple of days a week for the owner.
Sue has many reasons to stay selling the shop’s range of affordable handbags.
She said: “It is a nice, friendly place, I have made some friends here and you see different people every time.
“The owner’s been here for some time now, a lot longer than me, so business must be doing OK.”
Nikki Lakin, Gillards of Bath Nikki took over Gillards of Bath just two weeks ago and she is clearly excited to carry on the long history of the business.
Tea and coffee is weighed out from big pots and ground on site to order. Tea sets and coffee accessories are also available.
Nikki said: “I have just moved back from New Zealand. My best friend owns a cafe here and she told me this business was for sale and I thought ‘why not?’, especially since the coffee culture is so big there [in New Zealand.]
My husband and I were drawn to moving to Somerset as it holds a special place in our hearts.
“We met at school in Somerset and now we send both of our children there.
“In January and February the shop is having a makeover but we are keeping it really traditional. Gillards has over 130 years of history, that’s why we bought into it.
“It started out on New Bond Street then Broad Street, before it moved here 30 years ago.
“We have a lot of our own special tea blends, some of which have been going for over 130 years now.
“It is really special and it is all artisan.
“We have a warehouse out in Bathford where it is all handblended.”
Olwen Evans, The Dream of Olwen
Olwen has been in the corridor to the markets for 19 years. She sells a range of scarf varieties from Pakistan, China and Italy.
She also sells beautifully soft pure cashmere.
It has been her long-term livelihood.
“I had to bring a son up on my own and I like making money,” Olwen laughed.
“You would think I’d be a millionaire with how long I’ve been here.”