Newcastle shop owners are frustrated as more markets pop up in the city

Shops in Newcastle are up in arms after another continental market has pitched up in the city.

Business owners in the Grainger Market tell us their takings and footfall are being badly affected every time a market rolls into town - they're calling on the council to either do more to help them or move the newbies to another part of the city.

Iain Clarkin from Grainger Market based MMM Food and Drink speaks about it to Metro: “I think these markets seem to be becoming increasingly prevalent in Newcastle and other cities around the country. They are just travelling markets and it does really affect footfall into some of the small business and the things we hear from the big businesses as well, is that it affects their business when they’re here.”

“I think they should move it away from that very, very, very nice part of the city centre. It totally spoils the look of the monument, it’s a beautiful area when you can just walk through that wide street, and people can just walk along there. I think it should be moved and I’d dispute whether they are needed at all.”

Nick Robinson the Director of Robinson’s Pet Store in the Grainger Market agreed saying: “They are obviously selling lots of food on there, so once the people of the city go and buy their food from there, they have no need to move on to the Grainger Market to come and buy their food from here. So there’s an immediate effect and it’s not just a one off event that happens… I think it’s possibly up to four or five times a year that it turns up and it’s here for two weeks roughly at a time when it does turn up.

Basically all it does is takes money out of the local economy, it’s a travelling circus that rolls into town, it soaks up the local money and then it moves out of town and it doesn’t spend a lot of that local money back in the local area. So basically the City Council by bringing that market in, are promoting the movement of local money out of Newcastle which seems illogical to me.”

Nick the Rock Instrument Manager in J G Windows Newcastle is positive about the market, he tells us: “I actually think it’s quite a beneficial thing, we find that we do get a bit more footfall when the markets are on outside.”

We reached out to Newcastle Council - they say the International market is hugely popular but they'll take on board what traders say and are looking into the possibility of relocating it.

A council spokesperson said:

 “The International Market, which is here for five days in May, is hugely popular with shoppers, students and tourists who have been enjoying the event for the past several years.

“Visitors enjoy the foods and gifts from all around the world, and the event adds to the retail offer of the city.

“We are aware of the concerns from our Grainger Market traders and we are looking into the possibility of alternative locations for this type of street market.”