Edgbaston corners the market
Graham Young samples the delights of a village market in the middle of the big city which is gaining a reputation for the weird and wonderful
IT is a Saturday street market in the heart of Edgbaston’s Calthorpe Estate that is rapidly establishing itself as one of the biggest draws in Birmingham.
The market lies along Greenfield Crescent, in the recently branded Edgbaston Village area, between Calthorpe Road and Harborne Road.
And traders are travelling from the likes of Worcestershire, North Shropshire and Staffordshire to sell their wares – everything from felt hats to colourful cushions, ceramic pots to photographs and art.
Edgbaston Village Market originally began as a pilot scheme with 24 stalls.
Nine months on, it now has room for 60 traders including the new addition of farmers’ market produce.
For foodies there are vegan sausage rolls, too, plus artisan gins, cakes, puddings, fresh fruit and veg, chilli and Caribbean sauces, pies, cheeses, coffees and drinking chocolate.
Photographer and city tour guide Kevin Thomas said: “There are a lot of hand-made, artisan craft people here making really interesting things and that’s a real breath of fresh air against all of the larger shops.
“It’s good to get out and explore the city as well. Once the tram stop is open at Hagley Road it is going to make it easy to get around the city.”
Over at Rourke’s pies, owner Gary Rourke was delighted to have sold out of 500 pies made locally in Kings Heath, whilst Phil from Jethro’s Sauces was delighted he’d made the journey from Cannock.
Mr Rourke said: “I used to work on the other side of Hagley Road in IT but was made redundant at the start of Covid just a couple of weeks after the birth of baby number two.
“So I decided to do what I love and make pies with flavours ranging from Jackfruit Chilli Vegan to Chicken Hotpot and Thai Green Vegetable. We now employ four people and sell them from the All Saints Community Centre on Vicarage Road.”
Roger Price from Malvern’s Mill Bank Coffee Co was selling coffees from Sumatra, Uganda and India as well as Colombia.
Like many stallholders taking payments electronically, his company also has its own website, logo, QR codes and branded clothing – just more ways that small independents on temporary stalls can find new ways to compete with the big boys.
Kristian Hegenbarth had only travelled from Rubery to sell his wares, which included a painting of former Liverpool and Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho in an Aston Villa shirt – he’d sacrificed his season ticket for the Villa v Spurs match to attend the market and naturally
hoped manager Steven Gerrard will make the signing a permanent one if the painting isn’t sold this season.
Lee Sylvester, a former senior designer at sportswear manufacturer Umbro, added a splash of Caribbean yellow to her stall selling Tan Rosie sauces named after her grandmother.
Kevin France from North Shropshire was selling enamel artworks fired on to copper, having given up a career making dental crowns to replace tooth enamel in favour of working in a studio at home.
Meanwhile, Deborah Allen had travelled from Tenbury Wells to show off her wares as an artisan feltmaker of everything from hats to tea and coffee cosies.
And Lorraine Powell was showcasing her Blueberry Button textile gifts made by hand at Bransford, near
Worcester, whilst Bewdley-based Wildjac Homegrown Distillery had a range of drinks including Natural Dry Gin and Fresh Citrus Vodka.
Other traders included The Ludlow Pickle Company; Patrick O’Donohue Ceramics from Cradley Heath and Maz Leyden who designs colourful cushions and stationery in the Malvern Hills for markets like this one at the same as winning work from the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Ikea through her additional Fancy Features enterprise.
Phil ‘Jethro’ Foster works with wife Annette to create their unique Jethro’s sauces, dips, dressings and marinades in Cannock and there were many more other traders on the market, too.
Calthorpe Estates’ head of marketing Nicki Gibberson said: “We have been delighted by the popularity and
success of the Artisan Market since it launched in summer 2021, along the new-look Greenfield Crescent.
“Working with award-winning Boffy Markets, we have seen the market go from strength to strength.
“To keep it fresh and interesting, we have ensured that there is good balance of high-quality artisan food, drink, arts and crafts, alongside a variety of stalls and live music, and the visitor numbers and positive feedback we have received speak for themselves.
“We are incredibly excited and really looking forward to seeing everyone enjoying the best of independent Birmingham over the coming months.”
Edgbaston Village is also home to an increasing number of quality independent cafes, bars and restaurants, including the Michelin-starred
Simpsons, Chapter, The High Field, Laghi’s Deli, Loki Wine, and a range of home interest stores to include Neptune, OKA, BoConcept, KIN and Lux Gallery.
Just a mile away from Birmingham city centre via Broad Street, the 300-year-old Calthorpe Estate includes commercial, medical, leisure, residential and educational communities as well as one of the UK’s largest urban conservation areas.
■ The Artisan Market runs every second Saturday of the month from 10am till 3pm.
There will be a special market from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31 featuring the artisan market, street performers and more to tie in with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which will run from July 28 to August 8.