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New look at Huddersfield Open Market

Tuesday 25 March 2008

This fine building which used to serve as a Wholesale Market was built in 1888 at a cost of £14,700. It has been described as a magnificent combination of engineering and architecture. The building was restored in 1980 to its present day glory where traders have fixed stalls under the ornate glass canopied roof. Further work to upgrade the area and erect a feature arch was completed in 2000.

 

Recent work in 2006 and 2007, has included a new floor to the market, the replacement of every pane of glass in the roof and the installation of motorised shutters. As well as the new fresh produce units, this year also sees the opening of a brand new café oasis area, with five cafes serving a communal seating area.

 

Traders already open in the new units include the relocated fresh fish, poultry and game stall, Petals and Blooms selling fresh cut flowers, and the Snack Shack café which is moving temporarily to allow for the development of the café oasis area.

 

Tommy Alexis from Tommy & Sons fish, poultry and game, said ‘I’m looking forward to serving new customers to the market and expanding the range of produce I sell at the market.’

 

At the end of April, Take & Bake pies open to bring the aromas and tastes of freshly baked pies to the market. Lord & Son Ltd. was established in November 2003 with one sole mission; to restore the humble pork pie to its rightful place in the hearts and minds of ordinary folk.

 

‘For too long, the pork pie has suffered at the hands of supermarkets and garage forecourts whose supply chain logistics and price driven specifications have rendered the product unrecognisable from its original form’ says John Lord whose son Tony will be running the Huddersfield shop.

‘Those that remember long queues trailing from the pork butchers shop in the high street and eating a freshly cooked pork pie with jelly running down your chin will know what we’re all about.

Through our ‘Take & Bake’ range of pies (not just limited to the traditional pork filling) you can once again experience the delights if the butchers pie the way it used to be.

Come and see us at the market when we open in April and witness the ‘feeding frenzy’ that happens when we open the oven door and sell its contents in less then five minutes.’

Councillor Ken Sims, Cabinet member for Regeneration said ‘I am delighted to see these new businesses opening up permanent stalls within the open market. The council has invested millions of pounds over the past few years and we are now starting to see the results of this, with improved facilities at the market for both traders and customers.’