854-year-old Kingston Ancient Market step closer to being revived as new operator chosen

Kingston Council has appointed a new company to run Kingston Ancient Market, which originally opened around 1170, with the aim of driving footfall and boosting trade.

The council owns the market stalls, market square and grade II*-listed Ancient Market House, but the market is currently operated by Kingston First, the town centre’s business improvement district, under a rolling 12-month agreement. It is home to 28 permanent stalls and open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm.

The authority agreed plans in March to ‘revive’ the 854-year-old market after putting forward a ‘growing case for modernisation and change’ in the way it operates.

It approved a new Ancient Market Place strategy, which aims to deliver a ‘revived market destination for London and the South East’ by 2028 with an ‘expanded and diversified’ market attracting more shoppers – including the introduction of more events, regular pop-up stalls with greater variety, evening trading and reopening the Ancient Market House as it has been mostly empty for the last few years.

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As part of this, the council is bringing together the market, market square and Ancient Market House under a longer-term lease held by a new operator to allow a ‘longer-term partnership approach’. The council’s Corporate and Resources Committee approved the preferred operator to run the market, who has not yet been named, on November 21.

A report by council officers said the chosen bidder’s proposals would make the market into an ‘attraction in its own right’ and include upgrading the facilities, including the Market House. It added: “The preferred bidder’s submission… outlines a compelling vision for a revitalised market built around a reshaped version of the current offer but with much greater flexibility to grow at weekends and seasonal events.”

Traders told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in April the market was no longer the destination it was decades ago, but they welcomed any improvements the new strategy might bring. Fishmonger Tim Meads, 60, who had traded at the market for 41 years, said: “All this market is now is food. There’s nothing to bring people.

“Years ago – I’ve been here 41 years, my family started in 1866 – there used to be a haberdashery stall selling curtain material, you used to have a stall selling cards, wrapping paper, you used to have a stall selling hoover bags, bits and pieces.”

Tony Goshawk, 59, of Tony’s Fruit Stall, had also traded at the market for 41 years and called for its appearance to be improved, along with the variety it offers. “Whatever happens is going to be a good thing,” he said. “It needs a change. It needs an uplift.”

He added: “The people that love it are the people that remember how it was 40 years ago. Some people [who] come along now still think it’s OK and it is OK, it’s never going to be like it was 40 years ago but it certainly could be a lot better than it is now.”

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The council is now negotiating terms for the new lease, which is set to begin on April 1. Kingston First will continue to operate the market until March 31.

The new company is expected to take over the operation, management and maintenance of the market, including picking up costs for cleaning, servicing, staffing and business rates, which will save the council cash compared to the current arrangements.