Saturday 4th July sees the long awaited return of Ruddington Village Market. Last held on 7th March, the Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) made the decision to cancel the April market before the official lockdown was announced.
But with outdoor markets now permitted to return, the team have been busy planning the relaunch, moving from its usual location at The White Horse Inn to The Green.
“One of the best things about the market has been the way it’s become as much a social event as a place to shop,” says Mark Pinks, one of the market organisers. “Having the stalls close together at The White Horse has been brilliant – there was always a really good atmosphere as people crowded around their favourite stalls – but obviously things aren’t the same now.
“We’ve got to put safety at the top of the list, which means we’ve really got to space things out. We’re really grateful for the support of Ruddington Parish Council by letting us put the market on The Green, where we’ve got a lot more room to play with.”
“Our main focus is ensuring the safety of all our visitors, traders and volunteers,” adds Sue Matthews, Market Manager. “We’ve planned a layout with clear queues at each stand. The messaging throughout the site will remind people of the social distancing guidelines, with additional volunteers around the market to ensure safe queueing and social distancing.”
Nevertheless, the team promise a market filled with all the usual staples and treats from 9am until 1pm. “We’ve planned for 25 stalls,” says Sue, “with a good mix of local businesses and market favourites”.
For more market news, follow @ruddingtonvillagemarket on Facebook and Instagram, or @ruddmarket on Twitter.
Mark Pinks