New Wharf Green market opens in Swindon town centre

With the abandoned indoor tented market still laying empty nearby, the second day of the new Wharf Green version - and its rows of green and white striped stalls - also served to revive this part of the town's major retail area.

Government funding worth £100,000 was secured by inSwindon BID to launch the new market in an area now best known for its McDonald's. A big TV screen that used to have crowds of people gathering around it now sits unused and a row of empty shops that once included House of Fraser serve as a reminder of the challenges high streets up and down the country are facing. 

But now a collection of local businesses which wouldn't be able to take up residence in one of those unused buildings due to the cost and scale - and some from slightly further afield - had the chance to interact with the hundreds of shoppers who were enjoying the four-day weekend weather. 

"We're really pleased with the amount of people that have come out," a representative of inSwindon BID said. 

"We thought that it might be quiet with everyone going away for the weekend, but yeah, it's been great so far.

"We've had some great feedback from the public, who have been asking for something like this for a while and there's something about a proper market that brings people together."

Some of the items on offer from the smattering of stalls included sweets and pastry goods, flowers, door stops, candles, postcards and jewellery.

There was a classic market meat van, a fairground ride and even stilt-walkers to celebrate the market's arrival.

And, it seems that the market has been well received, with vendors having a good day selling their goods and shoppers enjoying the chance to see what's on offer. 

Robin from Bobby Bird, a handmade polymer clay jewellery stall, said: "I've had a really lovely time, it's been amazing, actually. People have been really positive and really lovely to talk to."

SJ Flowers and Landscaping's Joanne echoed this sentiment, saying: "People have been so welcoming and it's been really busy, a lot of people have come to have a look."

The Wharf Green Market will be there every Thursday and Saturday from 9am and 3pm with a retail offering, and then there will ll be a fine food farmers' market every third Friday.