A new community market in Birmingham is set to continue throughout the winter following a hugely successful summer launch.
Organisers feared they might have to abandon their stalls – selling fresh fruit and veg, cakes, bread and wood-fired pizzas – until the spring after next week's Stirchley Community Market, on September 28.
Local producers have been using the car park at Stirchley United Working Men’s Club and feared they would get washed out when the weather deteriorates.
But a deal has been struck to move the event indoors at the same venue from October until February. It means the market will continue to be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Tom Cahill-Jones, co-chairman of Stirchley Community Market and co-founder of Stirchley Happenings, said: “The market has really begun to put Stirchley on the map.
"The support we have had so far has been fantastic and now that we have an opportunity to keep going through the winter, we can develop the market even more to make it an integral part of Stirchley’s community.”
Tom Baker, director of Loaf Social Enterprise Limited and a market committee member, said: “What the market has demonstrated so far is both the range of good quality, locally produced food and crafts and the appetite of people who live in the area to take advantage of this.
“Carrying the market through the winter means that when spring comes, and it returns to an outdoor venue, the market will be in a position to really thrive and grow throughout 2011.”
Howard Crow, secretary of Stirchley United Working Men’s Club, said it was delighted to support the market.
Mr Crow said: “The working men’s club has been a part of the Stirchley community for 87 years and to be able to support a new venture that benefits the whole area is good for us, good for Stirchley and just goes to show what can be achieved when people come together to celebrate and promote the area they live and believe in.”
Stirchley Community Market was established by the South Birmingham Food Co-op, Loaf and Stirchley Happenings, with support from Birmingham City Council’s town centre manager for Stirchley.
It is run by a voluntary committee on a not-for-profit basis and stallholders are asked to make a voluntary contribution to cover costs.
Stallholders are drawn from within a three-mile radius with an emphasis on “hyper-local” produce and crafts.
The next market will be held on Tuesday, September 28, from 4-7pm. The December market will take place on December 14 due to the Christmas holidays
*More information on Stirchley Community Market can be found at http://stirchleycommunitymarket.wordpress.com
