Traders 'frustrated' by Market Hall stall rejections

The Market Hall in Derby, pictured at 11.30am on Friday 19 September, has been through a £35m refurbishment

Business owners who were rejected after they applied for a stall in Derby's new Market Hall have said they want explanations on why they were turned down.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC found only 29 out of 818 applications for units in the revamped market hall were accepted by the council, when diagrams show there are 43 units in total with extra space for pop-up stalls.

Derby City Council has refused to comment on individual applications, but said it wanted to "carefully curate" stalls.

However, traders have questioned why units and stalls have been left empty when there so many applications, especially as footfall has not been high since the hall reopened.

Micky Sheehan said his offer to run a bric-a-brac rock and roll stall was rejected

Micky Sheehan, 50, wanted to run a bric-a-brac stall selling signed goods, records and clothes, but said he was unsuccessful and not given a reason why.

Mr Sheehan, the former manager of the Victoria Inn, said: "[The idea] was born out of what I used to come [to the Market Hall] for, which was second hand designed clothes, second hand records, video games even.

"Me and a few friends would come down just to find that Fred Perry that you could wear, like a little bit of treasure, or you'd find a The Clash or The Jam album that you didn't have yet.

"That's what I thought markets were for. Sadly there's not much for me to do here.

"The memories were what provoked me to put a foot in and get a stall.

"The response was 'after careful consideration', we don't want your stall."

Council bosses said 34,500 people visited the Market Hall in the first three days of it reopening in May

Lorrayne Smith, 59, owner of Soap & Pawrey said she wanted to open a pet supply stall.

She said: "We didn't get a reason. It just said we've considered your application and that we don't fulfil the requirements to have the stall.

"I'm disappointed that that was all we got for the time we'd spent going to the meetings and investing our time going to see about it.

"I think the market hall is dying on its backside. It's a big shame for the people that have put time, effort and money into it.

"I think they made a big mistake personally with all the food stalls.

"We're a business from Derby. We're a small, independent business and we're sustainable. I just don't understand how on earth we don't fit the criteria."

Katie Gibson wanted to run a stall selling fresh pyclets

Katie Gibson, 40, owner of the food business Derby Pyclets, said she was a trader at the old Market Hall and applied to return after its £35m refurbishment, but was turned own.

Ms Gibson said she received no response when she contacted the council to ask why she was unsuccessful and to enquire about "different opportunities".

"It's a crying shame," she said.

"There's space in there. The building is incurring maintenance and running costs.

"Are you having a 'carefully curated' empty space? It's no good for the traders in there trying to survive."

Sarah Jephson, 40, said she applied to run a cosmetics stall, but was told by the council that they "had enough vendors".

"It's bad because I walked in there and it just seems like a food hall," she said.

"I think they need to go back to basics.

"I don't want a stall there [now]. There's no footfall through there is there? £35 million spent on something that doesn't work."

What does the council want?

During a full council meeting on September 17, Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield refuted a claim by Liberal Democrat councillor Lucy Care that the new Market Hall is "not fit for the 21st century".

She said: "If we waited until the Market Hall was utterly filled and utterly 100 per cent ready with no snagging issues and behind-the-scenes problems, it would still be closed now. We'd still be waiting for it to open.

"There is so much vibrancy going on. There are at least eight new stalls being announced very soon."

Peatfield added: "We had a considerable number of applications for stalls, predominantly for hot food, which were thoroughly considered.

"When considering an application, we look at the availability and intended use of each unit, the nature of the business and whether it is likely to succeed in the Market Hall.

"Applications are determined based on a variety of criteria, the existing offer, and the guidance of industry-leading market consultants. We keep all applications on file for future opportunities and all traders with an interest are welcome to apply.

"We'll be announcing an exciting new wave of traders soon."

The Market Hall website says there is a three-part criteria for potential traders.

The first is that it must be local, with the encouraged use of locally-sourced products.

The council also want sustainable traders, with products that are designed to last longer and be better for the planet.

The third criteria is ethics. Applicants for units are encouraged to exist for more than just profits, by giving back to the community or through charity.

The website states: "Brands and partners will be prioritised for their environmental and social impact, offering a model for meaningful local retail.

"We want Derby Market Hall to be accessible to all. For those businesses that fall do not currently hit our criteria we have business development programmes available to help improve your eligibility."