The wait is over. Antony Worrall Thompson, TV celebrity and celebrity chef yesterday presented trophies to the award winners of Market of the Year 2008. Pictured are representatives of the winners with NABMA President Councillor Gareth Jones, Jeremy Bradin the representative of KPR Midllink the sponsor and chief guest, Antony Worrall Thompson.

Prize winners of the coveted NABMA trophies were

Birmingham Best Outdoor Market

Halifax Best Market Hall

Borough Best Speciality Market

Darlington Best Market Attraction (a new category)

Jeremy Bradin of KPR Midlink, the sponsor of the competition admitted that “this year we had forty entries covering the various categories and we were delighted that the standard of the entries is improving year on year. The Judging Panel had a difficult task. Some of the results were extremely close and this prompted the Judging Panel to award commendations to a number of councils who, it was felt, had made a very worthy contribution to the competition.”

NABMA Chief Executive, Graham Wilson confirmed that “It is clear that we will continue the Market of the Year and build on the success of the last three years. However we do intend to alter the format of the competition next year to provide a new category for smaller markets. It is important that we recognise the success of many small markets throughout the country and we intend to do this next year by the creation of at least one new award.”

George Nicholson, a Trustee of the Borough Market admitted his delight at receiving one of the acclaimed trophies. “We were very thrilled to get the award, coming as it does from our peers in the Markets industry. We also feel we can now rightly take our seat with all the other long standing retail markets.”