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City's market reopens after £35m refurbishment

Asha Patel & Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News, East Midlands
BBC Large crowds inside a newly-refurbished Derby's Market Hall taken from the top terrace. BBC
Hundreds of people attended the market opening on Saturday

Shoppers have been welcomed back into Derby's Market Hall after a £35m refurbishment.

The Grade II listed indoor market was closed for three years while the work took place and reopened at 11:00 BST on Saturday.

Council leader Nadine Peatfield cut the ribbon to the entrance at the official grand opening as range of traditional and contemporary traders were poised to serve a large crowd of eager customers.

It is expected the revamp will bring an estimated boost of £3.5m to the city economy by attracting more people into Derby.

Peatfield previously said the market hall would "once again be Derby's beating heart".

Derby City Council leader cutting a large red ribbon with a pair of large gold scissors outside the entrance of Derby Market Hall, a Grade II listed building the city centre
The opening was highly anticipated, with a range of events planned to take place at the venue

Among those in attendance on opening day was Shelly Maddison-Clarke, 42, from Derby, who said the refurbishment looked "amazing".

"I think when you're nostalgic you remember how it used to be but it looks lovely and it's really nice to have all these different food markets and stalls.

"The building is amazing and still looks the same but the interior is just so different to how it was."

Sheila Pendrick, 78, from Derby, said she thought the new space was "totally different".

She added: "It used to be a good place for buying underclothes and socks, and fairly cheap groceries but I think it might have changed quite a lot.

"I'm glad the building has been renovated like though - it looks really nice."

A photograph of a woman with blonde hair at the opening of the market
Shelly Maddison-Clarke said she was pleased to see the market had been modernised

Located in the heart of the city centre - linking the Derbion shopping centre and St Peter's Quarter with the Cathedral Quarter and Becketwell - the new attraction's transformation started in 2018.

The official opening of the stall took place almost 159 years after its original opening.

Shoppers were treated to free tote bags as they were welcomed into the venue.

Mandy Chilvers, 58, was one of the traders at the market, selling upcycled and recycled artwork through her business Made by Mandy.

She said: "It's a great opportunity for me to reach so many more people. I'm already in a few shops dotted around but to be here with the amount of footfall is amazing.

"We are hoping we'll be here once a month and looking into getting one of the shops on the outside."

A photograph of a woman with pink hair at the opening of the market
Mandy Chilvers was selling items on the opening day of the refurbished market

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