Darlington Market restoration progresses as stalls demolished

Demolition work has started across the indoor venue, as part of a vision to attract artisanal traders to the revamped market. 

Council and market officials hope to entice a younger demographic by replacing the previous empty units with new contemporary outlets. Up to £800,000 has been pledged to finance the works. 

Changes in living and working behaviour have affected footfall at the Victorian market and Darlington Council has proposed a plan for further development of the traditional trading area to make it fit for the future.

Demolition work has started across the indoor venue, as part of a vision to attract artisanal traders to the revamped market. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Stalls that housed former traders such as Fenwick’s Butchers, which closed in 2022, have now been removed to pave the way for redevelopment. Former fishmongers P.A Liddle & Sons closed in September due to retirement, meaning there are now just a handful of traditional traders left. 

Just months after launching its new street food aspect two years ago, market bosses were faced with finding replacement traders after several pulled out. Several other cafe’s and market traders have left the site since then, however the firm has also attracted new businesses at the same time. 

The redevelopment of the site so far has seen one-third of the shop floor transformed into a street food venue, with bars and an events stage. Elsewhere in the market, The Urban Deli opened last week and it is expected other new stalls will open soon. 

The former fishmongers closed in September due to retirement (Image: The Northern Echo)

Michael Harvey, markets manager at Darlington Market, said the redevelopment is progressing well.

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He added: “We also have our first lease signed for the largest of the 13 new artisanal units that are currently being built. This will be a continental style deli serving cured meats, olives, wines, amongst other things. This will be operated by Chef Matei Baran, a Masterchef quarter finalist who is taking the North East by storm.”

Despite the progress, the leader of Darlington Conservatives recently revealed the former council failed in a bid to regain full control of the town’s indoor market from its current operator, Market Asset Management (MAM), after hearing concerns from shoppers and traders. 

Darlington Labour, which now runs the council, said it is in discussions with MAM about the market’s future.