A popular Nottinghamshire market is again facing an uncertain future as its operator says traders could face a “real financial hit.” The Beeston Farmers’ Market had been running on the third Saturday of every month since 2014 under a permit from Broxtowe Borough Council in Beeston Square.
The authority then booted the market out with just days of notice in early 2024, alleging there had been complaints made about the market. The council had been considering increasing the permit charge to the market’s operator, but also explored running the market itself to “generate additional income”.
Since the council has been running its own market from Beeston Square, the operator it booted out re-established itself in the car park of the Jesse Boot pub. The operator of the pub, the Stonegate Group, has now told the Beeston Farmers’ Market that the site is being revamped and that they will no longer have use of the car park.
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It means the most recent market held on Saturday (May 17) could end up being the last for the Beeston Farmers’ Market. Sharon Astill, who operates Beeston Farmers’ Market under the Meraki Markets company, said: “Quite a lot of people have already suggested alternative locations and I will investigate all of them.
“It was very challenging to move last year and we’ve managed to build back up here, but I’m not sure if it could sustain another move to be honest. None of the other locations are in the centre like we were originally and don’t have the same footfall.
“We don’t want to give up though and we will definitely look at all other options. The ironic thing is that we’ve got the square which has been practically empty since we left and now the stump has been moved, it’s got even more space.”
The market did not have to pay to use the pub’s car park, but contributed in other ways, like providing flowers for its hanging baskets. A spokesperson for The Stonegate Group said: “Due to the pub being on a capital refurbishment programme, the Farmer’s Market has had to be moved as the pub now needs the car park space.
“The Jesse Boot has loved hosting the Farmer’s Market for almost the past year after originally allowing the car park space for the market after the market was asked to be moved by the council. Sadly, the pub can no longer host the market, but we hope they can secure their future.”
Meraki Markets also runs markets at The Walled Garden in Beeston and in Carrington. Broxtowe Borough Council was contacted for comment, but did not respond in time for publication.
Sharon added: “It was hard work at the beginning, but we’ve done really well at the Jesse Boot and found an entirely new audience, so it’s a shame for the traders because this could be a real financial hit for them. If the high streets are dying, basing yourself at a market is the number one opportunity for a business.”
