Organisers of the new Makers Market for the city have said they cannot confirm exactly when they will return to Preston.
Stalls thronged the Flag Market during Saturday 11 May and the market was due to become a monthly event – taking place on the second Saturday of every month.
But Blog Preston understands organisers are locked in talks with Preston City Council as the council already has its events programme confirmed for the summer with vintage vehicles booked on the Flag Market from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 8 June.
The Makers Market had originally been due to take place down Fishergate but Lancashire County Council kicked back against road closure plans.
Around 10,000 people are thought to have attended the market which had around 80 stalls, and Preston Business Improvement District who helped organise the market claimed the market had led to a 14 per cent uplift in footfall to the city centre.
This was measured from a sensor in Fishergate which records the number of people passing.
Kelly Roberts from Makers Markets told Blog Preston: “We are delighted and overwhelmed with the positive response following last Saturday’s launch event, the feedback from local residents and traders has been has been fantastic and as with all our events is always great to see a community come together.”
Director of customer services and interim deputy chief executive at Preston City Council Neil Fairhurst said: “It was fantastic to see so many people in the city centre to support this event, showcasing small independent businesses. We were pleased to be in the position to step in and offer to host the Makers Market on the Flag Market, waiving the standard fee, to ensure this event could happen as scheduled.
“We are continuing to work with the Business Improvement District and the Makers Market to support their return.”
Read more: Butchers quit Preston Market in dramatic fashion
A spokesman for Preston BID said: “The Makers Market went down a storm in Preston, visitors seemed to really enjoy the event and the opportunity to purchase from small artisan producers, many of which are from the local area.
“We’ve seen the kind of crowds the event draws in Liverpool, Manchester, and Cheshire, and we knew Prestonians wouldn’t let us down in showing their support and visiting the event and the wider city centre; we look forward to supporting the Makers Market team in developing their offer in Preston.”
Read more: World Foods becomes the latest stall to leave the Markets
Would you like to see the Makers Market return? Did you go along? Let us know in the comments below