Market named Britain's best for third year in row

Shrewsbury Market Hall has won the title of Britain's Favourite Market for the third year in a row and for a record fourth time overall.

The competition, run by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), involves a nationwide public vote and a panel of industry experts.

NABMA said more than 40,000 votes had been cast and its chief executive David Preston said Shrewsbury offered "a vibrant and eclectic fusion of the handcrafted and the hard to find".

He also said the market was "not frightened of change and continually seeks to evolve".

Shrewsbury Market Hall has previously won the title in 2018, 2023 and 2024.

The title of Britain's Favourite Market was one of the 13 awards announced at the NABMA January Conference in Birmingham on Thursday.

The other 10 finalists in the favourite market award were Bury, Chelmsford, Nantwich, Oxford, Swansea, Pontypridd, Tavistock, South Molton and Market Drayton.

Shrewsbury Market Hall is celebrating its 60th anniversary year and is jointly run by Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council and is home to more than 50 independent businesses.

Shropshire Council's market tenant liaison manager Amy Williams said it was an "exciting and unique place to visit", and thanked the staff "who work tirelessly to help make the market special and ensure it continues to evolve".

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