Hinckley market is the country’s best

Posted on Tuesday 02 February 2010 in the 'Town Centre Partnership News' category

HINCKLEY market is the best in the country – and that’s official.

 

It has just been awarded the title of the Best Outdoor Market 2010 by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), which is the country’s leading markets organisation.

 

The judges were impressed by the fact that Hinckley’s vibrant market, which will be 700 years old next year,  is bucking the trend and continuing to grow while markets elsewhere are in decline.

 

While the Saturday and Monday markets are holding steady, the Friday market is going from strength-to-strength, with the number of stalls almost doubling over the past three years.

 

One of the major reasons for Hinckley market’s continued success is the comprehensive programme of improvements and enhancements that has been devised and implemented by the Borough Council and the Hinckley Town Centre Partnership.

 

This includes:

 

• £44,000 investment in new stalls in 2008
• New covers, new equipment and new strip lighting
• £9,000 investment in umbrella stalls, to attract arts and crafts products
• Marketing Committee set up, consisting of traders and the Market Superintendent, to formulate plans based on mutually agreed advertising and promotions
• Traders’ Code of Conduct developed, which is based on NABMA best practice
• Shoppers’ Charter brought in

 

In addition, stall rents have been frozen three years for licensees and casual fees have also been frozen this year.

 

Leader of the Council Stuart Bray, who picked up the award, said: “Hinckley’s market has been an important part of our town for 700 years. For the past few years I have been saying that our market is bucking the national trend and continues to get better and better. I am delighted that we have been honoured with this prestigious award.

 

“In particular I would like to pay tribute to the council’s Town Centre Manager, Mark Hryniw, Market Superintendent, Gary Shepherd, and importantly the market traders themselves for all their hard work and dedication to making it the success it is.”

back to top