Worcester City Council is to look for a new operator of monthly specialist markets in the city centre.
Currently a fine food market is held in High Street on the first Saturday of each month, with an arts and craft market following on the second Saturday. A new operator could be given some flexibility in scheduling, although the Council would like at least one Saturday market each month.
The Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee has agreed to seek a new operator after the current incumbent, Cotswold Markets, gave notice that it will stop running the monthly markets at the end of the year.
The Council will be contacting market providers in the region to make them aware of the opportunity. Experienced market operators can also contact
Councillor Adrian Gregson, Chair of the Place and Economic Development Committee, said: “The monthly specialist markets bring variety and freshness to the city centre, and we are keen to see them continue. We want to see markets that will complement the shops and food outlets based in the city centre, boosting Worcester’s offer as a place to visit, relax and shop.
“The Council is also open to new ideas, so if potential operators want to come forward with new themes for these markets, we’ll be very happy to listen.”
The currently monthly markets are held on High Street, with stalls positioned close to the Guildhall.
A report to the Place and Economic Development Committee set out the objectives of the specialist monthly markets as:
- increasing visitor numbers and spend in Worcester
- increasing footfall within the city centre
- providing residents with an improved and high-quality market experience and variety of offer that reflects the requirements of all age groups and social classes within Worcester
- providing opportunities for new businesses to be created.
The Council receives £11 per stall from the current market operator. This produced an income of £5,835 in the 2025-26 financial year.
Worcester’s separate weekly markets were also run by Cotswold Markets until September this year, when new operator Bluebell Events successfully relocated them from Angel Place to the Cornmarket.
