THE new Chester Market will open its doors to the public next month.

The new market will be open with no limits on numbers from Tuesday, November 8 onwards.

A limited number of free tickets available for the opening weekend from Saturday, November 5, to provide an exclusive first glimpse of the new market, have already been sold out.

The market will be open six days per week and closed on Mondays. Opening hours will be from 8am-10pm on Tuesday to Saturday and from 10am-9pm on Sundays.

An artists impression of what the new Chester Market will look like on the inside when it opens next month.

An artist's impression of what the new Chester Market will look like on the inside when it opens next month.

As the new market prepares to open, the existing Chester Market in the Forum Shopping Centre will close its doors for the last time on Saturday, October 15, to enable those traders moving to the new market to complete their stall fit-outs and prepare for the opening.

The existing market has been in the Forum since it opened in 1967. Throughout the evolution of the Northgate development plans starting in the 1990s, the council retained the long-held ambition of opening a new market within the scheme.

The new market will be a ‘modern traditional market’ with 40 stalls covering 36,000 sq ft, providing a vibrant mix of produce, goods, food and beverage traders, with over 400 seats, a stage and screen; designed to provide a stunning space to enjoy all that the market will offer, including retaining the popular foodie nights, events, demonstrations and acoustic music performances.

The multi-storey New Market Parking is currently expected be fully open to coincide with the market.

Councillor Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economy and Regeneration, said: “Opening the new Chester Market will be a huge achievement for the city despite the challenges of the past two years, and the start of the latest chapter in Chester’s illustrious trading history going back to the first market charter in 1159.

“It will also be a bittersweet time as we close the current market in October, it has served Chester well and I would like to thank all the customers and stall holders for over 50 years of support and service. We can be confident it will leave a lasting legacy and its entrepreneurial and community spirit will live on in the new market; with both the many fantastic existing traders transferring, alongside passionate new traders who will bring fresh ideas, and I know they all can’t wait to open.”