New Era For Market

Inquisitive city shoppers made Lincoln’s Cornhill Market – revamped at a cost of £8.7 million – their first port of call today.

All were eager to see how the historic building has been sympathetically transformed to create a modern, welcoming shopping destination.

After watching the official opening by Lincoln Mayor Councillor Alan Briggs, City of Lincoln Council Leader Coun Naomi Tweddle and the authority’s Chief Executive Angela Andrews, they rushed inside to check out the changes and say hello to many of the excited new traders.

Yesterday, (May 16) stakeholders, partners and funders had toured the building, sampled food products from stallholders and taken the opportunity to find out more about their individual businesses.

Guests had also checked out new features in the market including the mezzanine level and the two-storey extension to the building, which is now home to the restaurant Turtle Bay.

New life has been breathed into the Market thanks to a mix of funding. This includes a £5.9 million investment from the Government’s Towns Fund programme through the “Be Lincoln Town Deal”, £1.9 million from the City of Lincoln Council and additional funding of £918,000 from Historic England. The major regeneration work was completed at the end of 2023.

Hundreds of traders had registered their interest in pitching-up in the refurbished building and 24 have confirmed they are taking space.

Many were “good to go” and ready to welcome their first shoppers on opening day, others were adding finishing flourishes to their stalls and some have still to open, but there was a great atmosphere and traders were in upbeat mood.

City of Lincoln Council Leader Naomi Tweddle said: “Seeing the building with such an exciting atmosphere has been incredible and a taste of what’s to come for Cornhill Market’s new future.

“We’re excited for the people of Lincon and further afar to visit Cornill Market and enjoy this new addition to the city’ centre’s atmosphere.”

Lindum Group Co-Chairman Edward Chambers said:  “We are delighted to have been a part of this exciting project in Lincoln city centre for our repeat client the City of Lincoln Council and to see the new market opening to the public, with new retail, food and drink traders.

“The project was a great team effort involving local suppliers as well as our own in-house colleagues, including our bespoke joinery division which manufactured the new stalls, which look fantastic.”

Entering the market from Sincil Street, Bradford Plants is one of the first stalls shoppers will come across.

Owners Joanne and Paul Bradford are delighted with their new stall which is bound to attract people looking for fresh plants and gardening essentials.

“We are passionate about having our own plants and selling to others. We have a combined experience of 29 years, having sold at boot sales, galas, fetes and Mablethorpe Market,” said Joanne.

“We have a good position just inside the market’s front door,” said Paul, who has left his British Sugar job to become a stallholder.