Sidmouth community market success

Published: 3:23 PM July 16, 2009 Updated: 6:31 PM November 7, 2020

PROOF that Sidmouth could sustain a monthly market came on Saturday when the Vision Group for Sidmouth launched its Community Market.

"This was the first such market in Sidmouth and we had no idea how it would be received," said Vision Group secretary Jeremy Woodward.

"It went so much better than expected. Long queues were forming outside well before the start time of 10am and once the doors were open, St John Ambulance Hall was fit to bursting."

Shoppers went straight to stalls packed with leather handcrafts, poultry products, home-made cakes, organic veg and veggie boxes, local fruit drinks and cider, preserves, bread and dairy as well as plants, herbs and books.

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Customers enjoyed tea and cake afterwards.

Jeremy said: "The buzz was extremely positive and we are so pleased at the overwhelming response from Sidmothians, who said they found the prices very reasonable and the choice and quality excellent.

"It just goes to show that even in difficult economic times people can enjoy shopping at a traditional market, without paying over the odds, and that local businesses and ordinary local people too can sell goods to their own community without us having to go miles for their Saturday shop."

This was a real community project open to anyone in the area to participate in.

Its next market at the hall will be on Saturday, August 22.