THE new Chester Market will officially open its doors at 9am on Tuesday, November 8.

With all of the weekend preview tickets now allocated, the Market will officially open, with no limits on numbers, from next week. The previous site, which had been located in the Forum shopping centre since it opened in 1967, was closed on October 15.

The Market will be open six days per week and closed on Mondays. Opening hours will be from 8am to 10pm on Tuesday to Saturday and from 10am to 9pm on Sundays.

It will be joined by the multi-storey New Market Parking, with its full opening expected to coincide with the Tuesday start date.

The new market is designed to be a ‘modern traditional market’ with 40 stalls covering 36,000 sq. ft. providing a vibrant mix of produce, goods, food and beverage traders, with over 400 seats, a stage and screen, all designed to provide a stunning space to enjoy all that the market will offer, including retaining the popular foodie nights, events, demonstrations and acoustic music performances.

Some Chester market traders will not be to continuing to the new site on Exchange Square, with David Joinson Quality Meats and The Cheese Wedge among those to cut ties with the Market.

Cheshire West and Chester Council maintain that efforts were made to accommodate as many traders at the new site as possible.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said: "Opening the new Chester Market will be a huge achievement for the city despite the challenges of the past two years, and the start of the latest chapter in Chester’s illustrious trading history going back to the first market charter in 1159.

"It will also be a bittersweet time as we close the current market for the final time in October, it has served Chester well and I would like to thank all the customers and stall holders for over 50 years of support and service.

"We can be confident it will leave a lasting legacy and its entrepreneurial and community spirit will live on in the new market; with both the many fantastic existing traders transferring, alongside passionate new traders who will bring fresh ideas, and I know they all can’t wait to open."