Levenshulme Market Last Day This Year

Sadly today is the last trading day for Levenshulme Market in 2023. The Market is taking a break after celebrating 10 years of trading and intends to return in 2024.

The Market has been clear that there are a variety of reasons for this unexpected pause but the main one appears to be Manchester City Council deciding to impose a new fee in addition to the site licence fee the Market already pays. A full explanation from Levenshulme Market is available HERE (June 7) with a further update HERE (July 13).

Levenshulme Community Association would like to thank everyone involved in Levenshulme Market and for making the Market such a big part of Levenshulme as well as such a success winning several awards and supporting traders, with several going on to open businesses in Levenshulme. We hope that Levenshulme Market and Manchester City Council can find a solution and that the Council fully recognises the value of the Market and the contribution it has made to Levenshulme as a Community Interest Company and social enterprise, and the value it adds to our community.

Even though the weather might be showery today go down and give Levenshulme Market a big send off at the last Market of this year. We hope to see Levenshulme Market back again as soon as possible.

Levenshulme Market To Close Until 2024

Levenshulme Market organisers have announced the Market will close in July for the rest of the year as they face a series of challenges. The last Market this year will now be on 15 July then the Market will close until 2024.

This is dreadful news for Levenshulme as the Market, run as a social enterprise, has been developed through the hard work and commitment of people in Levenshulme over the last 10 years. In 2020 the Market won Best Small Outdoor Market at the Great British Market Awards 2020 organised by the National Association of British Market Authorities and was a finalist in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2019.

The Market says increased costs, staffing challenges, and the cost of living crisis have all played their part as well as the impact of the pandemic. Special mention is made of Manchester City Council, though, as it seeks to increase the fees charged to the Market to operate. This comes after a “painful planning permission process” to renew the permission with the Council. The Market also states “We reached out on a number of occasions to our local Levenshulme Councillors for assistance to no avail”.

Levenshulme Community Association has contacted Levenshulme Market to show our support and ask how we can help Levenshulme Market.

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Levenshulme Market Artists In Residence

A new initiative from Levenshulme Market…

LEVENSHULME MARKET ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

That’s right! With support from Arts Council England we’re proud announce Levenshulme Market is funding two local artists to work in the heart of Levenshulme’s local high street, creating an artistic project which connects with the community.

As regular customers know, each week Manchester’s artists can be found at the market, selling their incredible work directly to the warm and welcoming people of Levenshulme.

Now two of those artists, both of whom are Levenshulme locals, have been appointed as the market’s artists-in-residence.

This spring their joint project A Portrait of Levenshulme will see Laura Deane and Ciara Leeming popping up at a market stall offering FREE photographic portraits and drawing and collage workshops, and inviting participants to reflect on what makes this neighbourhood special.

This initiative has been made possible by Arts Council England’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund to mark the Queen’s 70 year reign. Similarly, this project aims to celebrate the resilience, longevity and diversity in Levenshulme.

You’ll find Laura and Ciara at the market 11am-3pm this Saturday (23 April) at Levenshulme train station car park.

Levenshulme Market Future Secured

Levenshulme Market has secured its future for the next four years following approval of their planning application.

Planning permission has been granted for the the Market to operate for another four years. Although the market had originally hoped to extend its operation throughout the year and add Sunday markets and more Friday night markets to what it does the application has ended up with arrangements pretty much the same as are currently in place.

There is a blog post on the Levenshulme Market website by Richard Hirst, Market Manager, outlining their experience in securing the renewed operating permission. The post outlines with some frustration the bureaucracy involved, delays, and lack of support from both Manchester City Council and local councillors.

Although this experience does not appear to have been particularly positive for Levenshulme Market the main positive is that the future of the market has been secured at the heart of Levenshulme for several years to come.

“Levenshulme Market is here for another four years. Which is great news and an enormous relief. But the lesson for us is that, while Levenshulme Market may be thriving – with thousands of customers each week, awards under its belt, generating enormous high street footfall, organising financial projects to support our local area – there’s no assurance it won’t find its future at risk once again. We dearly hope we won’t have a repeat of this ordeal in future, but in four years’ time you could once again be called on to help- keep Levenshulme Market open.”

Levenshulme Market blog post, 12 july 2021

You can also read a report of Levenshulme Market’s success in securing its future in the MEN HERE

Levenshulme Market runs from March to December. Current dates are available HERE

Expanded Levenshulme Market Secures Another Four Years

CORRECTION:

Unfortunately it appears this report was a little premature. The information is contained in a report to the council’s planning committee and was not the actual decision of the planning committee. Apologies for this mistake. It turns out what was reported was a planning officer’s report with a recommendation to approve the planning application. The decision was due yesterday (18/02/21) but has now been deferred to a future date to allow additional information to be submitted. We hope whatever clarifications required are secured. The current arrangements remain in place until August 2021.

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(Post edited to reflect the current situation pending a final decision by the council planning committee.)

The popular and successful Levenshulme Market operating as a Community Interest Company is here to stay [has submitted an application to continue] for another four years.

Manchester City Council approved [considered] the planning application today (18 February 2021) for an operating licence for Levenshulme Market for another four years. Not just as it is, though, as the market has big ambitions and will be operating throughout the year. These operating times were approved:

  • Fridays (up to 12 weeks a year) 16.00-22.00
  • Saturdays (52 weeks a year) 10.00-16.00
  • Sundays (up to 12 weeks a year) 10.00-17.00

The previous operating times for the market were:

  • Saturdays (March to December), 10.00-16.00
  • Fridays (ups to 10 days per year), 17.00-21.00

The market will [has applied to] continue to operate over the same area it currently uses across the southern half of the Levenshulme Station car park taking up approximately 50% of available parking spaces and providing 50 market stalls. The provision for 10 market stalls previously permitted on Levenshulme Village Green has been [would be] removed [under the new arrangements].

There are also plans to install a mains electricity supply for use by the market that will enable the current use of a generator to be phased out.

The decision [recommendation] includes this assessment:

“The operation market would give the district a distinctive retail offer that would contribute to the continued regeneration of the district centre, which would be particularly important to local economic recovery in the post-COVID period. The market is operated as a local social enterprise and many of its traders are from the surrounding area thereby demonstrating its links with the local area. It would also provide an important outlet for the sustained operation of local businesses. The development would present continued opportunities for social interaction and engagement across a diverse community.”

A new site management plan is to be agreed formalising the existing arrangements that also includes provision of stewards to direct vehicles and pedestrians, new signs and arranging remote parking for traders who do not require access to their vehicles so that the remaining parking spaces are fully accessible to the public when the market is operating.

Levenshulme Market Plan 2021

Levenshulme Market Cancellations

Notice from the Levenshulme Market Team:

Hello everyone.

Due to yesterday’s advice from the government we have taken the decision to cancel the rest of our markets for the month of March.

This means there will sadly be no birthday party Night Market this Friday, and no Saturday market on 28th March.

We’re awaiting further clarification on whether it will be possible to continue with our events in Levenshulme in the coming months. The situation is very much a live one at present and making any concrete decisions for our future is deeply challenging. But as a community hub our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our customers, traders and staff.

The situation we find ourselves in comes as a huge blow both to the market and to our traders. Markets exist due to small businesses born out of passion and dedication whose survival depends on opportunities to trade. Cutting off those opportunities gives us no pleasure and we would like to take a moment to add our voice to those venues and events organisers who have highlighted how unreasonable it feels that a decision of such magnitude has been left in our hands.

We’re hopeful that there will be some clarification very soon on how businesses such as ours are expected to cope with the decisions we’ve found ourselves having to make, and any future plans for our markets will be made accordingly.

Due to the recent announcement as well as the University of Manchester’s decision to cancel all in-person seminars, we have also taken the decision to cancel all of the Tuesday lunchtime food markets we run at UoM for the time being.

However, while the market may not be open for business we will still be here for you, working away on ways for you to support independent traders, amplifying those doing good work for the community here in Levenshulme and looking forward to a future when shopping, street food and socialising are safe once again.

Until then, please be kind to one another, support independent local businesses where you can and look out for those who may need help in these testing times.

The Levy Market Team

Levenshulme Market Wins National Award

Levenshulme Market wins Best Small Outdoor Market Award 2020

Levenshulme Market Seeks New Director

A message from Helen Power:

“Hello, as some of you may know there are some changes afoot at the Market. I will be stepping down from my position as a director at the end of this year (sniff!) and we’re having a bit of a reshuffle, which means we have a position available for a communications and marketing director! Is that you? Is it someone you know? Is it your cat? Find out if you, your pal or your pussy qualify.”

Full details can be found on the Levenshulme Market website HERE

Helen has been a key driving force behind the new Levenshulme Market since it was established five years ago as a social enterprise. Her energy, commitment and enthusiasm have helped make the market the success it has been as a vibrant focal point for Levenshulme on Saturdays and for many wonderful evening markets as well.

Levenshulme Language Day

Join Multilingual Manchester for a free family-friendly day of activities to celebrate Manchester’s many languages and cultures! 

The event will take place at The Klondyke Club, Arcadia Library and Levenshulme Market. Activities include language taster sessions, stalls, performances, crafts and games for children, world music, international food, and more. 

For more information or to get involved, please contact <mlm@manchester.ac.uk>

Levenshulme And Burnage Garden Festival

The very first Levenshulme and Burnage Garden Festival, including an Open Gardens weekender! 

Please share *a lot* folks, and help us to make it a roaring success! 

Many events are FREE, or cracking value, as we were awarded some cash from Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Investment Fund.

The first ‘event’ is is on 25th May at Levenshulme Market: Incredible Edible Levenshulme will be dishing out FREE herbs & wildflowers for tree pits and community alleys in Levenshulme and Burnage, 10am-2pm. If you’re a member of a residents’ group, have tree pits on your street, or have transformed your alley, you are eligible – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! 

On the same day, at 1pm, Andrea, AKA Little Italy Kitchen is hosting a Garden Feast in his beautiful garden. Details are on the poster (expand poster to full screen, left click ‘options’ in bottom right corner and click ‘download’. You should then be able to enlarge it to a legible size). 

Hard copies will be available at Bud, The Buttery and in and around Levenshulme and Burnage from Friday 5th May.

Incredible Edible Levenshulme / Community Action Day Events

There are two Incredible Edible Levenshulme community events to let you know about this week – IEL will be working on the Village Green and A6 planters on Wednesday evening, and there’s a community action day on Saturday 22nd (with Levy Market, Friends of Levenshulme Station, Love Levenshulme and IEL) to litter pick and clear spaces for planting on the Street With No Name.

Village Green & Planters

Date: Wednesday 19th April

Venue: the Village Green

Time: 6.30pm

Please bring gardening gloves and hand tools if possible.

Community Action Day

Date: Saturday 22nd April

Venue: meet on the Street With No Name

Time: from 10am

All equipment will be provided, plus a free hot drink for all volunteers!