Leek Market reopening

Celebrity farmer Kelvin Fletcher cut the ribbon at the relaunch of Leek’s revamped indoor markets after they underwent a £3.4 million overhaul. And the TV star, who has a farm on the Staffordshire-Derbyshire-Cheshire border at Wincle in the shadow of the Roaches, says markets are the ‘heartbeat’ of the town.

Work on the Butter and Trestle market has been wrapped up at the historic building in time for Christmas where new businesses have also moved in. Kelvin, who became a household name for his role in Emmerdale, joined a number of dignitaries for the official ribbon cutting.

The market refurbishment is one of three regeneration projects in Leek town centre which have been funded through the district council’s Levelling Up award. The authority received £17.1 million to ‘regenerate Leek’ – which has also seen Brough Park Leisure Centre shut for a major overhaul while the iconic Nicholson Institute will also be refurbished.

Kelvin became part of life in the Peak District after snapping up a 120-acre farm back in 2020 – and is now responsible for 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens. Speaking at the opening event, Kelvin said that the transformation of the markets had been ‘incredible’.

He said: “I’m from Oldham, I grew up in Oldham and Tommyfield Market was a big part of my childhood and I think what markets represent can never be undervalued. They’re the heartbeat of any working town.

“They represent the community, small traders, small businesses and without a strong market the town, the high street is worse for it. So I think the people of Leek are immensely privileged to have such a market, to have the council’s ambition and vision.

“The council has clearly demonstrated this is the future and I think that is, unfortunately, quite a rare thing. Nowadays, so much of our transactions are done online, I think for me to come into markets and actually see the whites of the eyes of the people you’re purchasing off; more often than not they’ve actually made the product themselves.

“That’s such a unique experience and hopefully that will continue and I think what the council have done is clearly establishing that and creating a great future.

“As somebody from the surrounding area, this place is genuinely special. The amount of people that come to our little holiday cottage and talk about Leek. Maybe people from Leek don’t realise but these sort of places are somewhat of a dying breed and it’s such a special place for the community.”

The council say the investment has future-proofed the markets halls delivering modern, flexible spaces for business and community use and improved customer comfort, safety and security and WIFI.

New Friday markets – themed around fashion on the first Friday in the month; food and drink mid-month; makers and artists on the third Friday; and vintage at the end of each month – are also set to start.

Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. This is the first of three projects, we must not forget that but after all the hard work put in by the previous administration and then us. It’s really nice to see this first project done and dusted being used by the public and being used for what it was designed for.”

Council leader, Councillor Mike Gledhill said: “The market got that fantastic blend of old and new. People can come in and recognise the old market, its many features like the tiles and the building itself but then they can look around and look at the modern heating, lighting, the new catering skills and the whole brand and image of the market and that’s all very 21 century.

“What that means is we’ll get that wider demographic of people coming into the market who will then filter out on to the high street and that will really boost the whole regeneration of the town centre.”

The Butter and Trestle market which houses a selection of local traders and food vendors is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8.30am – 4pm.