A CGI render of the revised frontage to the market hall

Funds awarded for Market Hall Renovation

Plans to renovate Knutsford Market Hall have taken a significant step forward with the announcement of major grant funding to help deliver the project.

Knutsford Town Council has secured a grant of £560,000, 80% of the estimated £700,000 costs of undertaking a complete refurbishment of the market hall.

The grant comes from the Community Ownership Fund, a £150m fund from the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up agenda. The fund aims to help communities save cherished local assets and the Market Hall is one of a number of projects awarded funding across the country.

The project is at an early stage, with more detailed plans to be developed and announced in the coming weeks ahead of a planning application being submitted by the end of the year. Once a timeline for the works has been agreed, the council will be able to determine how to accommodate traders whilst works take place. 

The renovations will include a complete refurbishment of the interior of the market hall, a redesigned frontage to create a more open and welcoming space and replacement of the stall structures creating more storage for traders within each stall.  The works will also deliver significant improvement to the energy efficiency of the building including installing insulation, closing doors and solar panels.

Speaking of the award, Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Green said “It was incredible to receive the news of our success in securing this game-changing level of funding for the Market Hall. Thanks to the Community Ownership Fund, we will be able to deliver a significant improvement to the Market Hall in 2024, securing its future for decades to come”.

Knutsford Market Hall was built in 1964, and with the exception of minor works in the 1980s, remains largely the same building as it was almost 60 years ago.

Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Coan said “Knutsford Market Hall is a fantastic space for small businesses and a vital part of our high street, we are delighted to be able to celebrate its 60th Birthday in 2024 by giving it a new lease of life”

The Community Ownership Fund provides grants of up to 80% of the project costs. The council is currently exploring how to provide the balance with options including use of its capital reserve and borrowing. The council is also seeking a further grant through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

This round of the Community Ownership Fund was the first to be open to Town and Parish Councils, thanks to the lobbying work of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), and Knutsford is one of nine local councils that has secured funding in this round.

A cropped photo of a man serving olives with lots of olives in bowls in front of him and some paprika roasted garlic in the foreground

New Traders at Knutsford Market Hall

Knutsford Market Hall has welcomed two new traders and seen a familiar face return to their Silk Mill premises.

Med Olives run by Unsal Sarikir opened on May 6th with Nyx Cat Crystals opening a couple of months ago, before moving to a more prominent location opposite Jonty’s Fruit and Veg.  Grandad’s Attic return to the market hall on May 20th opposite Slipped Discs.

Med Olives sells a huge selection of olives, nuts and Turkish Delight and is already a familiar face due to trading at Knutsford’s Makers Market.  Unsal, said “I have been made to feel very welcome at Knutsford Market Hall and I look forward to meeting customers new and old.  There is nowhere else in the town offering such a vast and varied range of olives – the perfect addition to any grazing platter”.

Nyx Cat Crystals took part in Knutsford Christmas Market in 2022 before taking the leap and joining a permanent market.  Nicky Facey is extremely knowledgeable and has a loyal customer base.  Nicky said, “I am really enjoying trading from Knutsford Market Hall. Each crystal is ethically sourced and intuitively chosen with love! Today’s world is so fast-paced, and crystals emit a range of positive, uplifting energising and calming vibrations that help even the most cynical!”

Grandad’s Attic have traded in the market before,  sell a range of upcycled furniture and traded in the market in a larger stall before moving back.  Owner, Linda Kendall said, “We just missed the vibe of the market – both customers and traders – everyone is so friendly.  Our smaller stall showcases our key pieces but if any customer wants something more bespoke, we can always source it for them”.

Knutsford Market Hall is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8am to 4pm.   Traders are as follows – Style Loft Boutique, Grandad’s Attic, The Market Butcher, M&J Cards, Jonty’s Fruit & Veg, The Market Café, The Market Hall Barber, Sabrina’s Baby Boutique, Radchester Garden Ornaments, Slipped Discs, Med Olives and Nyx Cat Crystals

Text says "Plant a Tree with Ranger Bob"

‘Plant a Tree with Ranger Bob’ returns this February half-term

Grab your shovels and join our Town Ranger this February half-term for a chance to plant a tree in Knutsford!

Following the success of last year’s event, ‘Plant a Tree with Ranger Bob’ is back this month and people of all ages are invited to participate by planting a tree in the two-day event. Whether you’re looking for ways to get some fresh air, or you just love trees, it’s a great way to make some memories and be part of Knutsford’s Nature Action Plan!

Knutsford Town Council set out to plant 13,000 trees as part of its Nature Action Plan in March 2020 as part of its commitment to reduce our carbon footprint. So far, the Council has planted 1,471 trees and they are keen to keep that number growing.

As part of this initiative, last year Knutsford residents joined fantastic Town Ranger Bob in different sites around Knutsford to plant a variety of trees. Dozens of Knutsford residents turned out to get stuck in and help plant a tree.

If you’d like to get involved this year, please send your name, contact number, how many people you’d like to bring and which site you’d like to plant a tree at to enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk. Spaces are limited so please get in touch ASAP to secure a space.

The times and sites are as follows:

Tuesday 21st Feb

9am:  Chelford Road, outside the cricket club (2 trees) – 1 Volunteer

10am:  Brandon Drive, green next to wildflower meadow (2 trees) – 1 Volunteer

11am:  The Heath, behind bowling green (2 trees) – 1 Volunteer

12pm:  Ladies Mile, by Heath Drive (3 trees) – 2 Volunteers

1pm:  Westfield Drive, green near 33-37 (11 trees) – 4 Volunteers

Wednesday 22nd Feb

9am:  Site One – Longridge, near 358-357 (4 trees) – 2 Volunteers

10am:  Site Two – Longridge, near 310-311 (2 trees) – 1 Volunteer

11am:  Site Three – Longridge, near 95-97 (1 tree) – 1 Volunteer

12pm:  Site Four – Longridge, near the Welcome (4 trees) – 2 Volunteers

1pm:  Site Five – Southfields, green opposite 30-38 (5 trees) – 2 Volunteers

Knutsford Market Hall Traders and Kath Gibb Smiling

Knutsford Market Hall and The Silk Rooms Join Forces

Shoppers visiting Knutsford Market Hall in February can enter a prize draw to win a night ‘next door’ at The Silk Rooms.

Kath Gibb of Aneto Properties are developing the former Freemason’s building into a ‘boutique  Airbnb’ with a downstairs bar and restaurant area. Kath said, “This has been such an exciting project for us.  The Grade II listed building had been neglected and required a lot of work.  Our restoration is sensitive but has brought the building and the outside space into the 21st century.  We live local and know Knutsfordians have fond memories of their evening in the Freemasons. Very soon, they can add memories of the Silk Room to this.

Shoppers at Knutsford Market Hall will receive a raffle ticket when they spend with the following traders –

  • Style Loft Boutique
  • The Market Café
  • Radchester Garden Ornaments
  • Sabrina’s Baby and Toddler Boutique
  • Slipped Discs
  • Market Hall Butcher

These raffle tickets will be entered into a prize draw and the winner will win a night’s stall at The Silk Rooms to be used by December 31st, 2023.

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager, said “We are delighted to be working the Kath and The Silk Rooms and can’t wait for next door to open! This collaboration is perfect.”

Knutsford Market Hall is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 8am-4pm, with the options to open on additional days with agreement. The market is home to a café, womenswear, a vinyl record shop, a baby and child clothing boutique, garden ornaments, a butcher and fruit and veg stall. A greeting card stall is coming soon.

The Silk Rooms is being developed by Aneto Properties and is scheduled open in Spring 2023. Aneto Properties are looking for tenants for the downstairs bar and restaurant area and interested parties should contact Kath Gibb on contact@thesilkrooms.co.uk

Chase from Paw Patrol outside the Market Cafe

Successful Market Open Day

Knutsford Market Hall hosted a successful open day on Saturday 21st August.

First held in 2019, the idea behind the day is to promote the market hall’s offer to customers – new, old, and especially those who have not yet discovered the wide variety of produce and goods on offer in the market. 

The open day was opened by Knutsford Town Mayor Cllr Stewart Gardiner who visited each trader and chatted with families who were enjoying a special breakfast at The Market Café with Chase from Paw Patrol.  Each of the market’s food and drink traders offered samples throughout the day and Slipped Discs played some retro vinyl in the afternoon.

Visiting families could also visit a face painter and anyone making a purchase on the day was given a raffle ticket to win a £5 voucher from each trader.  The draw was drawn at the close of the day and the lucky recipient has until the end of September to spend their vouchers

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council’s Town Centre and Marketing Officer said, “Despite the unseasonal weather, it was lovely to see some new and old faces in the market hall.  Breakfast with Paw Patrol went down a storm and the raffle was a great way to reward customers.  The market hall really has something for everyone, and we urge every Knutsfordian who has yet to discover it to pop in soon!”