Stevenage Indoor Market must change to survive, say traders

Stevenage Indoor Market has serving shoppers since 1973

Traders say an indoor market that has just celebrated its 50th birthday will have to adapt to survive.

Stevenage Indoor Market opened on 9 December 1973 and has been serving shoppers ever since.

It replaced the previous outdoor market, introduced when the new town was built after World War Two.

Labour-run Stevenage Borough Council said it hoped the market would continue to bring new businesses to the town in future.

The market has more than 30 outlets under one roof including hairdressers, watch repairers, a sweet stall and a food court.

Barry Phipps of Hurrens Butchers said it had a "regular fan base"

Barry Phipps works for Hurrens Butchers, which has operated in the market since it opened.

"Perseverance is the secret - you've got to keep going with it," he said.

"We've got a regular fan base, but they will dwindle as the younger generation are online shoppers now."

The market has had almost 50,000 visitors in the last five months, including more than 18,000 in November.

Naw Wah runs Kombu with her husband

Naw Wah runs Japanese and Korean street food outlet Kombu with her husband.

They moved into the market in May.

"It's a unique place where families come together and eat together and then go and buy other stuff in the market," she said.

Customers tell her they would like the market to close later than 17:30, as it currently does, so they could come for food in the evening.

Ryan Etere is entering his sixth year at the Portside Soap Company

Ryan Etere, entering his sixth year at the Portside Soap Company, said: "It's a good market with a loyal local customer base that thankfully keeps coming back.

"The fact we're inside helps, with the British weather, and we are a local market with local traders."

But Mr Etere thinks it may need to relocate to survive.

"I'd move us to the big area the council owns in the town centre so we're centrally based," he said.

"But then it comes down to things like empty stalls, which every market has in the UK. The problem is, our stalls are permanent, so it's a lot more noticeable."

Sally Green has run Southern Carpets for nearly 24 years

Sally Green, who had run Southern Carpets for nearly 24 years, said: "I think we have a really good atmosphere and it brings the community together. There's not a lot of town centres out there that still have the sort of thing we do here."

"People do struggle to start a business in the climate we're in, so if we concentrate on what we do well and keep going with that, hopefully more and more people will see us through social media and the events we do will increase the footfall."

Myla Arceno, Labour mayor of Stevenage, said: "Fifty years is a real achievement and a great milestone. The indoor market acts as a great incubator for new and upcoming entrepreneurs to create solid foundations for their businesses, growing their customer base and finding their feet in the world of retail.

"It has played a big part in the town's economy and history and I can't wait to see what exciting businesses it brings in future, too."