Swanage’s popular Friday Market is moving from Main Beach car park to allow for maintenance work to take place.
From this Friday 12th February 2021, the stall holders will be setting up at Broad Road car park, which is near Swanage Pier and Prince Albert Gardens.
The market, which now runs every week throughout the year, will temporarily move location, while the Main Beach car park is resurfaced. Swanage Town Council is also resurfacing North Beach car park.
Broad Road car park is just beyond Swanage Pier and Prince Albert Gardens with great views across Swanage Bay
Expected to take three weeks
It’s expected for the maintenance work at Main Beach car park to take three weeks, meaning that the Friday Markets will be in Broad Road car park on the 12th, 19th and 26th February 2021. The Friday Market will then return to Main Beach car park.
The work at Main Beach car park will also include improvements to the facilities for the stall holders.
“Installation of electric points for market traders”
Swanage Town Council visitor services manager, Culvin Milmer said:
“We are pleased to announce that the resurfacing at Main Beach car park will include the installation of electric points for market traders, which will help us to meet our climate crisis commitments as we will no longer allow the use of fossil fuelled generators at this site.”
The Friday Market is usually in Main Beach car park in Swanage
‘Artisans at the Market’ planned for April
Due to coronavirus rules, the market can only currently sell essential items like fruit and vegetables however once the restrictions are eased there’s plans to allow local arts and crafts producers to sell their goods.
Culvin Milmer added:
“I am very excited about the monthly ‘Artisans at the Market’ which, all being well, should start in April.”
This will provide an opportunity for local artisans to sell their art and craft work, which has been difficult since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020. The Artisans on the Beach Christmas Market had to be cancelled last year due to coronavirus restrictions.
Further information
Anyone who would like to be part of the Artisan Market and would like to know more should contact Swanage Information Centre via email welcome@swanage.gov.uk or telephone 01929 766018.
