Darwen Market full for first time in six years

9:10pm Sunday 29th July 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

DARWEN’S six-day market has no vacant units for the first time in more than six years.
Despite the nationwide downturn in consumer spending, the town’s market is thriving with a number of new stalls opening in recent weeks.
Among those new stalls are a sarsaparilla and home brew seller, clothing alteration stall and, in the three-day market a train collectables seller.
Markets manager Gwen Sangster was delighted with the situation.
She said: “At the minute we are completely full. There are no vacant units.
“We are bucking the national trend in the six-day market.
“It has been a long while since we were last full.
“I have been here for six years and it has never been completely full in all that time.
“The markets are very busy at the moment.
“The six-day market is looking really good and it is a great feeling.”
James Quayle, 46, owns Darwen Home Brew and has set up in the annex with his wife, Katy, 32.
Mr Quayle previously had his own construction firm, but has since got into home brewing.
His stall sells home brew kits for beers, wines and spirits, as well as sarsaparilla and other health tonics.
The firm also sells hardware equipment for people to set up bars in their homes.
He said: “Trade has been good so far. It is going really well.
“Everyone likes the sarsaparillas and the health tonics, which all come from Fitpatrick’s in Rawtenstall, which is the oldest temperance bar in the country.
“We took over from Bob Fulton who had stalls in Blackburn and Darwen.
“Without Bob we would never have been able to get going.”
Jackie Menzies has opened clothing alterations and repairs shop Stitch in the standalone unit at the top of the stairs on the School Street side of the market.
The 42-year-old said: “Last week was our first week and we have been very busy.
“I did alterations at home for friends and family and I thought I would give it a go.
“It is good to be part of such a thriving market, I have had a lot of good comments.”
Darwen councillor Karimeh Foster said: “It is great to see these new shops opening for the people of Darwen.
“The market is a great place for people of the town to go and do their shopping.”

Comments (12)

9:22pm Sun 29 Jul 12

useyourhead says...

But all the shops are empty, result!
But all the shops are empty, result! useyourhead

9:58pm Sun 29 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

useyourhead wrote:
But all the shops are empty, result!
well that's up to the shops to up there game.
What do you want ! The market stalls to pack up just so the shops can get more customers.
[quote][p][bold]useyourhead[/bold] wrote: But all the shops are empty, result![/p][/quote]well that's up to the shops to up there game. What do you want ! The market stalls to pack up just so the shops can get more customers. 2 for 5p

10:54pm Sun 29 Jul 12

fireonthemountain says...

Well I wish everyone the best of luck .

I would certainly be interested in the train collectable shop .

I just hope that -

A / - the druggies don't ruin it , by stealing everything they can lay their worthless hands on .

B / - the council , the elf 'n safety , etc don't destoy the place by raising rents etc .

(ooh - your'e doing well - think we'll squeeze a bit more juice out of you - so we can spend more on outreach-diversity-c
o-ordinaters-twinned
-with-some-unheard-o
f-town-in-Europe .

Let's have a junket on the taxpayers
.
What do you mean the drains don't work ?

Not my problem - another glass of red please - no not the '55 , '56 is much better ) .

We will see .
Well I wish everyone the best of luck . I would certainly be interested in the train collectable shop . I just hope that - A / - the druggies don't ruin it , by stealing everything they can lay their worthless hands on . B / - the council , the elf 'n safety , etc don't destoy the place by raising rents etc . (ooh - your'e doing well - think we'll squeeze a bit more juice out of you - so we can spend more on outreach-diversity-c o-ordinaters-twinned -with-some-unheard-o f-town-in-Europe . Let's have a junket on the taxpayers . What do you mean the drains don't work ? Not my problem - another glass of red please - no not the '55 , '56 is much better ) . We will see . fireonthemountain

10:58pm Sun 29 Jul 12

fireonthemountain says...

My apologies for poor spelling and punctuation .
My apologies for poor spelling and punctuation . fireonthemountain

11:27pm Sun 29 Jul 12

english rose 1 says...

fireonthemountain wrote:
Well I wish everyone the best of luck .

I would certainly be interested in the train collectable shop .

I just hope that -

A / - the druggies don't ruin it , by stealing everything they can lay their worthless hands on .

B / - the council , the elf 'n safety , etc don't destoy the place by raising rents etc .

(ooh - your'e doing well - think we'll squeeze a bit more juice out of you - so we can spend more on outreach-diversity-c

o-ordinaters-twinned

-with-some-unheard-o

f-town-in-Europe .

Let's have a junket on the taxpayers
.
What do you mean the drains don't work ?

Not my problem - another glass of red please - no not the '55 , '56 is much better ) .

We will see .
I think fireonthemountain has been on the 55 & 56 !

This excellent news is partly because the Council has managed the Markets well & charges realistic rents etc; And the police do their bit by making sure that there isn't much crime. And, of course, the hard work by the traders & market management to make it a success ! The nearby Academy school has helped too with a proportion of their staff visiting the town to shop.

There are no junkets fireonthemountain !
[quote][p][bold]fireonthemountain[/bold] wrote: Well I wish everyone the best of luck . I would certainly be interested in the train collectable shop . I just hope that - A / - the druggies don't ruin it , by stealing everything they can lay their worthless hands on . B / - the council , the elf 'n safety , etc don't destoy the place by raising rents etc . (ooh - your'e doing well - think we'll squeeze a bit more juice out of you - so we can spend more on outreach-diversity-c o-ordinaters-twinned -with-some-unheard-o f-town-in-Europe . Let's have a junket on the taxpayers . What do you mean the drains don't work ? Not my problem - another glass of red please - no not the '55 , '56 is much better ) . We will see .[/p][/quote]I think fireonthemountain has been on the 55 & 56 ! This excellent news is partly because the Council has managed the Markets well & charges realistic rents etc; And the police do their bit by making sure that there isn't much crime. And, of course, the hard work by the traders & market management to make it a success ! The nearby Academy school has helped too with a proportion of their staff visiting the town to shop. There are no junkets fireonthemountain ! english rose 1

7:00am Mon 30 Jul 12

kim says...

I always did like Darwen Market, and when I come back from the US I'll be paying a visit. Good luck to you all.
I always did like Darwen Market, and when I come back from the US I'll be paying a visit. Good luck to you all. kim

8:15am Mon 30 Jul 12

A Darener says...

Since the closure of Blackburn's proper market we have been going to Darwen market every Saturday. It is great, everything you need or want is there. The people so friendly and the atmosphere bustling. Also FREE parking, what more could you ask for?
Since the closure of Blackburn's proper market we have been going to Darwen market every Saturday. It is great, everything you need or want is there. The people so friendly and the atmosphere bustling. Also FREE parking, what more could you ask for? A Darener

10:05am Mon 30 Jul 12

chris283 says...

friendly ye if you say so lol
friendly ye if you say so lol chris283

10:21am Mon 30 Jul 12

A Darener says...

chris283 wrote:
friendly ye if you say so lol
I do! and they are!
[quote][p][bold]chris283[/bold] wrote: friendly ye if you say so lol[/p][/quote]I do! and they are! A Darener

10:41am Mon 30 Jul 12

verbal discharge says...

Last time I went to Darwen there were loads of empty units andering around ;-)
Last time I went to Darwen there were loads of empty units andering around ;-) verbal discharge

5:24pm Mon 30 Jul 12

2 for 5p says...

I've not been to darwen market for years, there used to be some decent cafes there could anyone tell me what they are like now.
I've not been to darwen market for years, there used to be some decent cafes there could anyone tell me what they are like now. 2 for 5p

9:27pm Mon 30 Jul 12

Kiwihead says...

Will deffo pay a visit to the market next time I'm back in the UK, but why do we need to know Jackie's age? Why?
Will deffo pay a visit to the market next time I'm back in the UK, but why do we need to know Jackie's age? Why? Kiwihead

Comments are closed on this article.

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