Free and discounted business opportunities at your local markets

Ever fancied running your own business and looking for a great place to start?

Lancaster City Council’s markets in Lancaster and Morecambe are offering a number of opportunities for budding local entrepreneurs to launch a new business or expand on an existing one with free and discounted rates for pitches and stalls.

Festival Market

Vintage Corner

Traders in all things vintage are being invited to take up space for free at the Festival Market’s Vintage Corner; a new section of this covered market dedicated to the sale of vintage wear, accessories and other items.

Anyone bringing items representing a bygone era to the market will be considered for a free pitch for the first four weeks of trading.  The rent thereafter will be just £25 a month (pricing structure to be reviewed quarterly).

Space is limited so anyone interested in taking up space should contact the markets team as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Discounted rates for general traders

Traders who bring a new commodity to the Festival Market and apply for a regular stall between now and the end of May 2017 will be able to get off to a flying start with a discounted rent of just £50 per month for the first three months of trading.

The Festival Market is located a stone’s throw from Morecambe’s promenade, the iconic Midland Hotel and a short stroll away from the Eric Morecambe Statue.  This covered market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year (plus all summer bank holidays).

Assembly Rooms Emporium

Located on King Street, Lancaster, the Assembly Rooms Emporium is on the hunt for new stallholders who can introduce exclusives to the mix of unique items already on sale in this beautiful 18th century building.

The emporium which is situated on the ground floor of one of Lancaster’s Grade II listed heritage buildings is open Tuesday to Saturday and space is currently available to let from a mere £20 a week.  Commodities currently on offer include vintage, period, retro and alternative clothing and accessories, authentic period dress hire, knitted goods, books and games, gifts and artwork.

The Emporium is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm (Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm).

Charter Market, Lancaster - rent a Wednesday pitch for free 

If you’d prefer to trade in a bustling outdoor environment in the heart of Lancaster City Centre, then the historic Charter Market might be right up your street.

Free pitches are currently available on Wednesdays at Lancaster’s popular street market for new traders introducing something different to the market (maximum of four free Wednesdays per trader).

The market is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 9am – 4.30pm (4pm in winter).

For more information on any of the above offers, please contact the Markets Team on 01524 414251 or send an email to markets@lancaster.gov.uk   Alternatively you can register an interest at www.lancaster.gov.uk/traderinterest and someone will contact you to discuss the options available. 

More information on all Lancaster City Council’s markets is available at www.lancaster.gov.uk/markets  

Last updated: 08 September 2016