Old Towne Market to move indoors for winter

The Sunday event, which launched in October, has provided a welcome boost to the economic fortunes of the town.

Organisers estimate the weekly market – which features local farmers and fishermen among a variety of vendors — attracted up to 1,000 people on its busiest days in the run up to Christmas.

Space

The event, which saw stalls fill Water Street and the town square, will switch to a winter venue at the former cruise ship terminal pending authorization from the Corporation of St. George.

Cheryl Hayward, chairperson of the Old Towne Market committee, said the indoor venue is much smaller and space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Organizers are working on the assumption that the weather will not be good in the coming months but that the event will move outdoors when the sun shines.

The market will also have the potential to spill out on to the waterfront with tented stalls, even when the weather is bad. Ms Hayward said: “Our ambition is to make it a year-round market.

“We will do a season, take a little break, then bring it back for the next season.”

The market will be held every Sunday from February 13 until April 10.

There will be a break for the annual agricultural show and Easter weekend, with the event likely to return in the summer and be held outdoors. Ms Hayward said the response from the public has been tremendous, adding: “It has been really interesting to watch.

“It’s a beautiful venue and people just want an excuse to come down to St. George’s and wander around.

“We have tried to take estimates of how many people have attended and we figure that we get at least 1,000 on a good weather day.”