Shrewsbury Market Hall is staging a two-week showcase event as part of celebrations for this year’s national Love Your Local Market campaign.
Launching on Friday May 15 and running until Saturday May 30, the showcase includes workshops, talks, demonstrations, wine tastings and a Late Night on Saturday 23 May.
Love Your Local Market is a major annual UK-wide campaign dedicated to celebrating, supporting and promoting local market traders and markets. Led by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) it aims to promote the social and economic importance of markets.
“The campaign is a chance for markets and traders to showcase what they do and demonstrate the valuable role they play in supporting the vibrancy of the high street, new business opportunities and local communities,” said Tenant Liaison Manager Amy Williams.
“We have a varied line up of events – the majority of them free to attend – put on by our traders. Visitors will get the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, learn new skills, take part in something a bit different and celebrate with us at a Late Night on May 23.”
The two-week showcase kicks off on Friday May 15 when the market’s Raven Bookshop hosts a talk on ‘Book Collecting for Beginners’, 4.30pm – 5.30pm. On Saturday May 16 artist Karen Duffy hosts an introductory workshop to oil paint and cold wax techniques, 9am – 10.30am.
Wednesday May 20 sees a food demonstration, concentrating on herbs and spices, with world-travelled foodie Natalie Jenkins of Moreish café, 2.30pm.
The Makery is demonstrating the art of creating Mitsuro Hikime jewellery at 10am and 2pm on Friday May 22. Later the same day market florist The Flower Stand and natural wine specialist Iron & Rose are joining forces for an English flower bouquet-making workshop and a talk and taste on three English/Welsh wines, 3pm – 4.30pm. Participants need to buy tickets for the event, available from The Flower Stand.
A special Celebration late Night, on Saturday May 23, will see the market open until 8.30pm with most of its eateries, bars and a selection of lifestyle stalls taking part.
On Friday May 29 Petitglou wine bar will host a drop-in ‘Orange Wine Tasting’ event where wine lovers can learn all about the history of orange wine and why it’s beginning to appear on restaurant lists and wine merchant shelves. People will get to taste three orange wines and receive a personal talk by a wine specialist (£10 per person).
Also taking place throughout Love Your Local Market fortnight are: drop-in Shrewsbury Gin sampling at Gindifferent bar; a chance for people to bring in their own antiques to learn more about them with Vintage 49a and an opportunity to learn more about Pokemon trends at The Booster Box.
Talks, entitled ‘An introduction to Tarot Reading’, will be held at Bartalini on Wednesdays May 20 and 27, Saturday May 23 and Friday May 29 at 2pm. There will also be special promotions at some stalls.
