Farmers’ market ‘hasn’t been the same’ since move
Windsor residents are calling for action on the decline of a once popular farmers market in the town centre, writes Anaka Nair.
The Windsor Farmers’ Market runs on the first Saturday of every month selling locally-grown fresh produce and hand-made artisan crafts, having been developed in association with the Windsor, Eton and Ascot Town Partnership in 2005.
Thames Valley Farmers’ Markets Cooperative runs the market in Windsor and nearly 20 other towns, and moved the monthly fixture to a permanent location in Bachelors Acre in 2021 following a rent increase in St Leonards Road, where it previously operated for 16 years.
Windsor resident Matt GordonSmith told the Express: “Since it moved to that area, I’ve noticed there are fewer and fewer stalls coming.
“It was in a visible place with a regular footfall of people and then a few years ago, it moved to Bachelors Acre which is quite out the way – I don’t think people would naturally find it.”
The Windsor resident of more than 20 years ‘routinely’ visits the farmers’ market and said there were three stalls at the event on Saturday, and five stalls the month before.
“The farmers’ market was always something where you’d go to get local produce and I’m quite keen to try and source stuff locally wherever possible. It’s nice to support local businesses and hopefully reduce the environmental impact as well, which is important to me,” he said.
“It’s a nice routine and I suppose this is the second month in a row where there weren’t any stalls with things I’d normally buy. It was disappointing because I thought, I’m not going to do this anymore.”
Matt wrote about the ‘end of
Windsor farmers’ market’ in a social media post on Saturday, adding:
“Like so many other aspects of shopping in Windsor, it’s been gradually declining to the point where it’s not worth going, and many other nearby towns are outperforming us.”
He was met with dozens of responses including Councillor Amy Tisi voicing her concerns that the market ‘hasn’t been the same’ since it relocated.
She told the Express: “I think it’s about the location – it just doesn’t seem to have the same footfall as St Leonards Road did.
“I used to [visit] when it was on St Leonards Road and I haven’t really since it moved to Bachelors Acre which I think is quite telling.
“It’s been a gradual decline, I think. It used to be much busier. I don’t think other [markets] have suffered in the same way.
“It would be such a shame to lose it. It’s a really lovely thing for local people – it’s not necessarily for visitors.
“If you look at some of the shops that have opened in Windsor – the independent bakeries – they seem to be popular so there’s a market for that sort of artisan, locally sourced products.
“People are keen about where their food comes from these days so there’s still a market for it, particularly amongst locals.”
She said she had met with officers to see whether another alternative location that would increase footfall could be found.
Thames Valley Farmers Market was approached for comment and a spokesperson agreed the organisation was also ‘disappointed’ in the decline of the Windsor market and following a committee meeting on Wednesday, said they would ‘continue to look for another location’.