Exciting new plans are being developed to potentially transform Southport Market into a unique food and drink offer with flexible events and market space.

Impressive images have just been released charting how the King Street market could look like in the future.

While no final decisions have yet been made, Sefton Council is starting the process by talking to current stall holders about the exciting plans with the view of moving things forward through the usual formal process.



Sefton remains totally committed to ensuring Southport Market continues to operate and makes a positive contribution to the local economy as well as becoming a key visitor destination.

For this to happen, the Council believes the current operating model needs to be adapted to meet changing consumer and businesses demands, and are looking at options on how to build on the previous investment that will potentially deliver:

• Enhanced hot food and drink offer
• Self-contained food retail units
• Flexible market and events space

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Housing, said: “We really value Southport Market but sadly it has become evident that many factors are making trading conditions extremely difficult and occupancy levels continue to fall.




“While we have been actively promoting it and trying to secure new traders along with other initiatives to help deliver a long term sustainable future for the market, this has sadly not worked.

“As a result and building on our former investment at the market, new plans are being developed to potentially transform the building into a unique offer that will only benefit the town and the wider borough.

“Nothing is set in stone and as we develop further plans over the coming weeks and months we will ensure existing traders are fully kept up to date and consulted on any final plans.

“While we totally understand how trading conditions have been difficult in the market for many months, we remain committed to supporting traders throughout this exciting process and will continue to do so.”




Blackhurst’s butchers have been in the market for 40 years, and owner, Tony Blackhurst, said: “Having seen the market change over a number of years I am really excited to see the latest plans and look forward to Blackhurst’s butchers playing a key role in the market’s transformation. Blackhurst’s butchers along with the other market traders remain open and we look forward to seeing you soon.”

Anyone who may have an interest in the market’s exciting future plans, please contact tourism@sefton.gov.uk

A large drop in rents for the tenants for a start,no fancy overpriced items,large variety of DIFFERENT items,clothing,perfumes,household goods,electrical goods,food outlets,butchers,shoes,ironmongers etc etc.....How a market should be stocked for shoppers,a virtual supermarket selling goods at the right price for the consumers.

Originally Posted by jonnybgood

A large drop in rents for the tenants for a start,no fancy overpriced items,large variety of DIFFERENT items,clothing,perfumes,household goods,electrical goods,food outlets,butchers,shoes,ironmongers etc etc.....How a market should be stocked for shoppers,a virtual supermarket selling goods at the right price for the consumers.

Agree, plus stop having the cheapo market stalls in Chapel Street - any seller wishing to sell via a market stall should be pointed towards the indoor market with maybe more flexible lease/licence terms. Anything to encourage more foot-fall.

Move the popup market into the market hall.

Originally Posted by jonnybgood

A large drop in rents for the tenants for a start,no fancy overpriced items,large variety of DIFFERENT items,clothing,perfumes,household goods,electrical goods,food outlets,butchers,shoes,ironmongers etc etc.....How a market should be stocked for shoppers,a virtual supermarket selling goods at the right price for the consumers.

The proposals are for a food and drink venue. Nothing else.

The recent food and drink "offers" have all moved out of the market because of lack of foot-fall and high rents. What will be different this time?

If you entice café traders with low rent offers for a limited period you're likely to empty out Lord Street even more.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

The proposals are for a food and drink venue. Nothing else.

these are just copycat proposals ,in some places its working in most not,just self ego stroking and b/**** from its proposers.fix the town first,then the rest may follow.every rep that's visits my buissness from across the land states southports the worst uptake of orders and vehement parking regimes as to why their the last stop on their trips.this year the coach viits are drastically down .its windy city out there.so much so our restuaranteers are having a comp as to how many tables served in a month.the only busy activity is our police callouts an cannabis raids. were f/ckd

How much is it going to cost??
Last time the Council up graded the market it cost £4,000.000.!!!
Anyone remember how many years ago it was upgraded?

If the council are involved it’s doomed, it will sink quicker then the Titanic

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Exciting new plans are being developed to potentially transform Southport Market into a unique food and drink offer with flexible events and market space.
If the idiots on the council are involved it’s doomed and will sink quicker than the Titanic,

Impressive images have just been released charting how the King Street market could look like in the future.


While no final decisions have yet been made, Sefton Council is starting the process by talking to current stall holders about the exciting plans with the view of moving things forward through the usual formal process.













Sefton remains totally committed to ensuring Southport Market continues to operate and makes a positive contribution to the local economy as well as becoming a key visitor destination.


For this to happen, the Council believes the current operating model needs to be adapted to meet changing consumer and businesses demands, and are looking at options on how to build on the previous investment that will potentially deliver:


• Enhanced hot food and drink offer
• Self-contained food retail units
• Flexible market and events space


Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Housing, said: “We really value Southport Market but sadly it has become evident that many factors are making trading conditions extremely difficult and occupancy levels continue to fall.
















“While we have been actively promoting it and trying to secure new traders along with other initiatives to help deliver a long term sustainable future for the market, this has sadly not worked.


“As a result and building on our former investment at the market, new plans are being developed to potentially transform the building into a unique offer that will only benefit the town and the wider borough.


“Nothing is set in stone and as we develop further plans over the coming weeks and months we will ensure existing traders are fully kept up to date and consulted on any final plans.


“While we totally understand how trading conditions have been difficult in the market for many months, we remain committed to supporting traders throughout this exciting process and will continue to do so.”















Blackhurst’s butchers have been in the market for 40 years.



Owner, Tony Blackhurst, said: “Having seen the market change over a number of years I am really excited to see the latest plans and look forward to Blackhurst’s butchers playing a key role in the market’s transformation. Blackhurt’s butchers along with the other market traders remain open and we look forward to seeing you soon.”



Anyone who may have an interest in the market’s exciting future plans, please contact tourism@sefton.gov.uk

Originally Posted by susanb

How much is it going to cost??
Last time the Council up graded the market it cost £4,000.000.!!!
Anyone remember how many years ago it was upgraded?

The market was refurbished in 2012 at a cost of £3 million. The rent that each stall holder needs to find every week is £120 including heat and lights. Many stall holders struggled to even cover those costs. The council should allow for gradient rent, starting at around £30 per week for the first year, and raising by £10 per week per year according to footfall. This would fill the stalls and hopefully the public interest. The market should open from 9am - 6pm to allow for custom from people working shop hours. At present it closes around 4.30pm. There would be no need to refurbish the market again, the council would save on these costs.

By opening as a food and drink venue is not a good idea as the market is not central enough to attract visitors and it would only serve to reduce the numbers of customers to existing venues. The proposed costs of £4 million would not be returned and the proposal would be a waste of money.

The £4 million would be better spent on creating a competition for all potential business people - to suggest ideas for opening new retail trade in Southport. Those people who had the most creative ideas would win the chance to be given a premises rent free, business tax free for a year - to test their idea out.

The council should also consider opening one of the central car parks as a Free Parking site. The Chapel Street market should be moved to one of the side streets since the existing market has open trading display on one side only and is blind to people shopping on the other side. The market also necessitates the need for motor vehicles along the pedestrianised area causing damage to the paving and obstruction to pedestrians.

I would agree that the opening hours of the 'unique food and drink offer' would need seriously looking at. Anywhere that calls itself a 'classic resort' needs to cater for the biggest trading day of the week, and Southport Market is currently closed on Sundays!

Just because the grey suits at Sefton work 9-5, it doesn't mean that a wine bar and bistro could survive on those hours and have to close on a Sunday.

I would think that the pizza place on the corner (Scoozi) does well because it has an entrance on the street and isn't restricted by the market's opening hours.

The trouble is that it's a question of 'one in, all in' and I can't imagine the butcher (or any other retail outlet) wanting to be open at 10pm on a Saturday night.

Perhaps it needs completely rebranding and losing the 'market' tag - that was effectively ruined anyway when the refurb made it look more like a mini shopping mall.

Originally Posted by said

The rent that each stall holder needs to find every week is £120 including heat and lights.

No it isn't because the stalls and unit are different sizes and are therefore priced differently

The proposed costs of £4 million would not be returned and the proposal would be a waste of money.

There is no mention of proposed costs anywhere so where have you got £4million from?

There are already plenty of places to eat and drink in Southport. This proposal could work if done right but if it doesn't then it's another white elephant and a waste of money.

Personally I'd gut the place and turn it into an indoor skate/scooter park like Rampworx.

With respect, if you look at the rent and rates numbers
when they are finally released.Then you can assess
the feasibility of the venture , hopefully it works .If it
don't , guess what? Don't go blaming .