Warrington Market on reopening and bouncing back from Covid

The £11million food hall and modern marketplace for independent traders launched in July in the midst of the pandemic.

There have been many Covid restrictions since then and this year only around nine essential shops have been open with a small number of food traders opening up at weekends for deliveries.

So it was a big day for the market on Monday when all shops, stalls and food kiosks reopened.

There was a vibrancy to the venue as traders reunited with customers while others made the most of the clear day with a bite to eat with table service outside.

Paul Blaney, market operations manager, said: "Footfall is definitely up. It's nice to see a bit of a buzz here.

"It's not just the same faces I see every day. The conversation runs a bit dry after several months of lockdown and I'm sure they're glad to see other faces as well.

"It's also great to hear traders say they've seen some of their older customers who might have not been out for 12 months and coming back finally.

"We've got some new traders in the market too which is great to see.

"We've lost one or two during this difficult period but we're very fortunate that the majority of traders have come back and hopefully we can now get on the other side of this awful time for businesses."

Ste White described it as 'amazing' to be back in the shop with his team just after Renovation Station marked two years in Warrington.

The trainer restoration business was launched as an offshoot of Moran's which has been run by four generations of the same family.

Ste White of Renovation Station

Ste said: "It's been good today – more so for the traditional side of the business with people coming in for shoe repairs and key cutting.

"We've replaced a lot of watch batteries. Everyone's watches have died during lockdown so they all want their watch batteries done.

"So on that side we've been non-stop and we've had a few collections on the trainers and we've getting orders ready to post to people.

"We've seen people knocking around the streets and in the market. It's just nice to see familiar faces out and about again.

"We've got a lot of customers who haven't necessarily needed us today but have gone out of their way just to come and say hello or give us a wave as it's people we've known for a long time.

"Some of our older customers we've not seen since the first lockdown. They've not wanted to come out of the house until they had their jab and now we're finally seeing them.

"We're lucky that we provide the sort of service where people prefer to come to who they know. Some families have been coming to us for what feels like forever."

Simon Wright, who works for Citizens Advice, was out shopping at the market.

He added: "Before this week, everywhere looked so depressing but it's great now. The outdoor tables look fantastic with all the people eating there.

Warrington Market shopper Simon Wright

"I didn't intend to eat but I went and got a sandwich and sat out there because it just looked so nice. I also got my haircut at 8.30am this morning.

"I didn't really know what to expect today. I think it's certainly been helped by the sunny weather though."

Meanwhile, Petit Francais – a deli and lunch spot run by Dan Hamlet and Ben Tring – has been partially open throughout the various restrictions.

As a food trader, they have been able to open in lockdown but have chosen to close at times due to uncertain trading conditions.

Dan Hamlet and Ben Tring of Petit Francais

Seeing the market busy has given them renewed faith.

Dan said: "We opened in July and then we stayed open throughout the November lockdown but when it hit January it got really quiet.

"There is only so much food you can throw in the bin so we decided to close until late February. It's gone really well since then thankfully.

"The lockdown rules relaxing is definitely something we've been looking forward to. You could see and feel the difference in the atmosphere at the market straight away.

"We're starting delivery too so I think we'll be busier than ever. I'm feeling optimistic about the rest of the year now. It's a sigh of relief more than anything."

Optimism is also reflected in the market in the fact that there are new traders in these tough times.

Craft beer shop Batch Bottlestore and Cotto Pasta Kitchen are among new arrivals.

Chris Bardsley, who runs the shop with Will Brown, said: "Everyone's in the beer gardens rather than buying cans today but it's still been very good.

Batch Bottlestore

"We have a bottle shop and a deli in Altrincham and it's been nerve-wracking to expand the business at a time like this.

"But we launched the deli at the start of the first lockdown and opened this business in Warrington at the end of hopefully the final lockdown so we've had both ends of the spectrum.

"We're really happy with how the shop has come together and we're feeling confident."

Paul added: "We've already seen a different demographic coming to the market because of Batch. The market will continue to evolve as we look at what else people are interested in."