The popular Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market returns this weekend (Sunday 2 April) for the first of eight markets this year.
Having supported over 100 local independent businesses during their 2022 season, the market is back with a special Easter edition and has announced a new music sponsor.
Event organisers Laura Holmes and Talia Giles have been inundated with applications from stallholders offering quality, second-hand goods including antiques, vintage and collectables to talented artists with fresh ideas and original work plus locally grown ingredients and homemade produce.
New for 2023
Market co-manager, Laura, said: “Just some of our new faces for our launch market include narrowboat travelling artist Charlotte’s Arts with her beautiful lino prints and textiles.
“In the ever-popular local produce section you’ll find mother and daughter duo Sweet Dem Sugar; a brand-new bakery business who have invented a Bedford Flea breakfast muffin with bacon.
“We’re also really excited about Amani Kitchen who are a family street food business preparing authentic dishes of Iraq and Persia served hot to go on the square.”
For the third year, live music will be adding to the relaxed Sunday vibe. And this year, drinks brand Seeing Eye Rum who are a husband-and-wife team based in Bedfordshire are the live music sponsor for the season.
Tom, co-owner of Seeing Eye Rum said: “This will be a great chance to showcase and connect with some of the awesome musicians on the Bedford scene right now.
“We are huge fans of the recent explosion of independent food producers, vendors, artists and craft creators in the Bedfordshire area, and we believe strongly in supporting local businesses”.
Footfall-boosting Flea
Despite turbulent and uncertain times for retailers and town centres up and down the country, Bedford’s independent businesses are thriving.
“We have been inundated with applications for this season, with a large proportion of the grass-roots businesses being less than a year old which bodes well for the future of our local economy as well as helping to keep our offering fresh and diverse,” said co-manager Talia.
“We know the increase in town centre footfall due to the market has really made a difference not just to the growth of our stallholders’ businesses, but to our rich community of shops and services such as Green Earth Café who have continually made record-beating sales on our market days.”
From May onwards, the market will run on the second Sunday of the month until November at St. Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL.
Opening hours are 10am – 3pm and there is free parking on Sundays in all council-owned car parks.
