Express & Star

Axed Stourbridge Market will return next year

A market that was axed after rents were increased will return to a town next year.

Published
Stourbridge Market could soon be making a return

Tudor Markets will bring stalls back to Stourbridge from March, and aim to give the ‘best experience’ for shoppers.

A Christmas Market is also planned for next month.

The firm also runs Dudley Market.

The market was shut in September after former managers LSD said they could not continue to run it following a change in policy – which they said amounted to a 850 per cent rise in rent – by Dudley Council.

Natalie Mashhadi-Marshall, business developer for Tudor Markets, said: “We aim to give Stourbridge the best experience possible and we want to let people know that we will be bringing it back with an official launch in March.

“This has been something that has happened quite quickly for us.

“We are in the initial stages of planning at the minute but we know that having the market come back means the world to the people of Stourbridge.

“We want it to be the focal point of the town centre again. It has always been there and when it left it had an effect on the public with it not being there anymore.”

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member responsible for licensing, said: “People have been coming to Stourbridge for a market for many years and we recognised the importance of doing everything we could to continue that popular tradition, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

“We have granted consent to trade in Stourbridge to Tudor Markets, who have extensive experience in running high-quality markets.

“There will be a traditional market in the town, as part of the Christmas light switch-on, and markets throughout the festive period.”

The market was held every other Saturday in the heart of the town centre on Lower High Street and Coventry Street.