Date set for St Johns Market relaunch following £2.5m refurb

One of the oldest indoor markets in Britain is due to relaunch next month after undergoing a £2.5m overhaul.

Liverpool’s St Johns Market, which dates back to 1822, has been given a makeover and now boasts its own events space, welcome desk and free wi-fi.

The renovation project started in June and has expanded the market by a third, boosting the number of stalls from 90 to around 120.

Now, Liverpool City Council has confirmed that St Johns Market will be open for business again from Monday, November 14.

The launch will coincide with the the completion of the council’s £3.5m upgrade of the public realm surrounding the shopping centre, in and around nearby Clayton Square.

The revamped market will include space for temporary events or speciality markets, new seating areas with room for 200 people and new lifts and public toilets.

To drive success for the market’s sellers, St Johns Market Traders Association will create a new website and social media presence.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, said: “St Johns Market has been totally transformed – people will simply not recognise the place.

’’But the changes are not just physical, a lot of time and planning is going into how the market is animated and promoted and, critically, how the customer experience is improved.“

He added: ’‘The Traders Association have a key role to play in making St Johns a warm, welcoming and friendly shopping environment and I know they are aiming to set the bar very high.’’

The chairman of St Johns Market Traders Association, Ged James, who has traded at the centre since the mid-90s, commented: “We’ve had a sneak peak and really like what we’ve seen. It’s a huge improvement on the old market.

“We can’t wait to get back in and start trading again and welcoming old and new customers to St Johns.”

He continued: “We’re also really looking forward to working with the new traders and making the market a vibrant retail destination in Liverpool.’’

St Johns Market had its last refit in 1971 and was then reopened by The Queen.

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