Sad news for many when it was announced suddenly yesterday Monday 11th March 2024 that the once popular and only city centre market at St John’s was shutting down with immediate effect.

It came after efforts on the part of the city council to stem the serious decline of footfall at the market and with fewer traders willing to pay the high costs of rental which was geared towards repaying the huge loan that was taken out to refurbish the venue. Everyone seems to agree that the remodelling never worked. It remained a soulless place despite the new design and refurbishment.

However Engage and city centre and waterfront residents have long argued that we need a proper market that offers the very best in fresh food and produce. At the last consultation we suggested visiting the famous Altrincham Market which has set the standard for North West regeneration based around quality food and drink. Liverpool has an increasingly impressive group of bakers, brewers, chocolateers, food producers and drink makers plus many non-beverage and food items. MerseyMade has shown just what the region is producing. Surely there is room to replicate this successful model of bringing into one space many of the makers in the area.