More traders are officially announced for new Chester Market

Eleven further stalls are now contracted or are under offer to trade, with five taken by existing Chester Market traders, and one by a business relocating from the Forum Shopping Centre.

The line-up includes a florist, bakery, vintage clothing, hand-crafted cosmetics, handmade stationery, grocery and a zero-waste refill store alongside three food and beverage traders serving fresh pasta, vegan and Mexican foods.

All remaining stalls in the market are under offer and leases are expected to be concluded for all 39 stalls in the new market before it opens in late autumn.

Construction work is almost complete, and the fit-out contractor will begin shortly, followed by each individual traders’ stall fit-outs during the summer.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said: “This is a really exciting time for the new market, and I am especially pleased that we have confirmed new grocery traders and a bakery, which delivers on our vision to create a ‘modern traditional market’ for Chester.

“I am equally delighted to welcome traders committed to a sustainable future, like the much-loved Just Footprints store which will move from the Forum and into the new market. There is also vintage clothing, vegan food and a planet-friendly stationery trader too.

"It’s also really important to remember that while the new market is completed, the current market is still open, and the remaining traders are still open for business and need our support.”

The latest existing traders moving to the new market include:

The first stall visitors will see when entering the new Market will be 'Lise' Florist and Flower Garden. Lisa Dean will offer a colourful display of seasonal cut flowers for every occasion. Her skilled team will be making up hand-tied bouquets for immediate purchase or delivery, while shrubs, perennials and seasonal plants will also feature on the stand. Lisa will also be transferring her established Purely Pots tropical houseplant stall and opening a new separate stall featuring desert plants, cacti, succulents and pots.

Lisa Dean of Lise Florist.

Lisa said: “Being able to expand our existing business and offer a wider range of plants and pots to provide a one-stop-shop in the heart of our amazing city, along with a dedicated florist stall, which will be a stunning visual delight as you enter the market, will be an incredible opportunity.”

Existing Chester Market trader Vegan House will be transferring to the new Market, bringing their passion for pioneering vegan cuisine. With a background in street food markets and festival catering, Sasha Alexander established his business four years ago and has a menu featuring gourmet beef-style burgers, classical hotdogs, loaded fries, Doner kebabs, F*sh and chips, chicken-style kebabs alongside a variety of small bites, side dishes and healthy options.

Sasha Alexander of Vegan House.

Sasha said: “Our entire menu is 100 per cent plant-based and we carefully select our suppliers by working closely with other small independent businesses in the area to minimize the environmental impact.

"We believe our cuisine can help our customers learn about plant-based alternatives and the long-term benefits this can bring to both health and the environment. Our menu provides nutritionally balanced dishes for the health conscious, whilst also catering for those who are seeking a little treat and appealing to non-vegans alike.”

Local illustrator Sophie Jackson will be selling her range of planet-friendly stationery using sustainably sourced materials, including greetings cards, gift wrap, stationery, artwork, tea towels, cushions and more. All her paper and card products are FSC certified, all cotton is organic and unbleached, packaging is recyclable or compostable, and everything is made in the UK, as locally sourced as possible.

Illustrator Sophie Jackson.

Sophie recently started trading at the existing market and said: “Being able to test out my range at the existing market has really helped give me the confidence and experience to move to the new market. My ethos is to create a place to buy beautiful greetings cards, stationery and home products that don't cost the earth - eco-friendly never looked so good!”

Lovers of vintage clothes will be catered for by Daily Wares, a lifestyle store focused on providing authentic Americana-inspired vintage clothing, and their own brand designs who have just opened in the existing market. Their range will include classic vintage garments such as jeans, hoodies and T-shirts from trusted brands such as Carhartt, Dickies, Champion and more.

Joe Brannigan and Jake Gould of Daily Wares.

Established by Joseph Brannigan with a background in fashion retail, previous pop-up shops and selling online, Joe said: “Every piece I sell is hand-picked, ensuring that the item is both of good quality, and fits with my brand seamlessly. Plus, sustainability is key for us at Daily Wares, and by keeping clothes in circulation and extending their shelf life we can reduce the negative environmental impact of disposable fast fashion.”

Another eco-friendly stall will be opened by Just Footprints, which currently runs the refill store opposite the current market entrance in the Forum Shopping Centre. They have pioneered the plastic-free and zero-waste concept and offer a wide range of food, toiletries, kitchen and household consumables that can be easily refilled with customer’s own containers and sustainable gifts. Established by Debbie Groom in 2018 to help eradicate plastic pollution and make everyone’s journey to sustainability easier and more enjoyable.

Debbie Groom of Just Footprints.

Debbie said: “We believe that if people buy just one of our products rather than buying it in plastic somewhere else, it will make a huge difference; a zero-waste lifestyle isn’t one big, instant change, it's more a series of small changes over time. It's not easy and takes time and planning, but trust us, it’s worth it and we will be here to help.”

New traders will include:

Winston's Cheshire Farm Shop will provide the grocery stall for the new market, providing a key element of the ‘modern traditional’ ethos, bringing the best local produce, locally crafted food and drink into the heart of the market. The business is spearheaded by chef trio of Phil Bibby, Marta Staszewska and Jamie Thomas and was launched in 2018, focusing on locality, seasonality, sustainability and quality.

Winston's Cheshire Farm Shop hopes to encourage customers to consider where their food comes from and engage with local producers. Alongside fresh produce, their wide range of high-quality Winston’s Finest ready meals will also be available to buy, with ingredients sourced locally to their kitchen.

Jamie said: “We are incredibly eager to open and champion the very best of our local producers. We want to create a permanent showcase in the new market, a compelling draw for residents and visitors, craving the real taste of Cheshire."

Artisan bakery Born to Bake, established on the Wirral by Michael Kerr, who currently serves both trade and public customers across the north west as well as local Farmers’ Markets.

Mike Kerr of Born to Bake.

Mike said: “We are thrilled to have been selected for the new Market and can’t wait to bring our extensive and delicious range of artisan loaves and baked goods, such as poppy seed, olive, donker, corn and sun-dried tomato breads to Chester.”

Big Lola's Taqueria is a Mexican street food concept, named after a notorious jailed donkey in Mexico. They will be serving a menu inspired by the Mission District of San Francisco, including slow cooked beef brisket burritos, roast chicken quesadillas, halloumi and sweetcorn tacos and chocolate caramel churros as well as regular specials.

With a dedicated following at their current Duke Street Market home, they have built a reputation as one of the go-to places for Mexican food in Liverpool.

Oli Smith of Big Lola's Taqueria.

Oli Smith, a director of the business, said: "We can’t wait for the market to open and are really looking forward to bringing the Big Lola's experience to Chester Market and serving our Mexican street food in the city.”

Alphy and Becs will be selling a range of handmade cosmetics, skincare, men’s grooming and fragrances, born from a simple concept to keep it simple and natural. They are a family-run business established in 2011 by Alphonso Esposito and Rebecca Brierley from Northwich, a musician and an interior designer respectively. They take their inspiration from trips around the world, influenced by the smell of beautiful lands like Italy, Spain, France and further away like New Zealand and Australia.

Alphonso Esposito of Alphy and Becs.

Alphonso said: “All our products are 100 per cent handmade in small batches following ancient recipes and individually quality controlled to guarantee a great product for our customers and no animal testing is allowed. From the making process to packaging and labelling, no machinery is involved, just our hands and love.”

To complement his Mercato Pizza Co. stall in the new Market, Rick Feery will also be opening a live fresh pasta demonstration kitchen called The Fresh Pasta Kitchen, which will offer pasta dishes to eat in the market alongside a deli style counter with a variety of pasta and sauces for customers to take home and cook themselves. Rick and his chefs will be making fresh pasta all day and will have a range of pasta hanging to dry ready for service.

Rick said: “I want to create a pasta stall with as close to zero waste as possible, most of the dishes will be made using fresh ingredients cooked in the stall using locally sourced produce from other market traders and to utilise their skills and knowledge of produce to turn them into fantastic authentic Italian dishes.”