The Burnley Artisan Market is to become a permanent fixture on the town’s event calendar next year after positive feedback from visitors and businesses.
Delivered in a partnership between Burnley Business Improvement District (BID), Burnley Council and Independent Street, the market first took place in September before returning in October, November and December.
It will get underway in the New Year on Saturday 5th February and will then take place on the first Saturday of each month following.
The idea behind bringing the market to Burnley was to entice a wider demographic into the town from surrounding areas and so far the method has proved fruitful, with a number of businesses reporting that they’ve been visited by new customers on market days.
Photographs by Gaz Tyke
HOMEMADE ITEMS AND PRODUCE
Each event is jam-packed with a wide range of stalls featuring homemade items and produce, with a spotlight shone on local independent businesses, ingredients and materials.
There’s also live music, craft areas for children and a number of food and drink providers who passionately showcase their unique creations.
Initially introduced as a trial, the overwhelmingly positive response to the artisan market made making it permanent for 2022 an easy decision for Burnley BID Project Manager Andrew Dean.
“We were blown away by the reaction to September’s event and it has continued to go from strength to strength over the months that have followed,” said Andy.
“Artisan Market day is always buzzing and it has definitely helped entice new visitors into the town. I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to grow and develop in 2022 and help encourage even more people to come and discover Burnley.”
Photographs by Gaz Tyke
SO BUSY ON EACH EVENT DAY
Independent Street’s Lisa Cowley added: “We’ve loved bringing the Artisan Market to Burnley and seeing St James’s Street so busy on each event day.
“The challenge will now be to make the offering even bigger and better than before for the people of East Lancashire and beyond but we’re already looking forward to making that happen.”
Councillor Asif Raja, Burnley Council’s executive member responsible for the town centre, said: “It’s great to see the success of the Artisan Markets means they will become a permanent attraction in Burnley.
“The market provides a wider shopping offer which helps bring in more visitors which, in turn, has a wider positive effect on the town centre as a whole. When St James’s Street was refurbished, it was designed to create a space for events just like this. We’ll continue to work with others to find new ways of making Burnley town centre more attractive.”
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