Markets emerge, mix, mingle and migrate

The Stables Market on Thomas Street-Photo by Charlie Heasman

The Ferocious Mingle Market has left Thomas Street and relocated to Camden Street, but no sooner has it done so and a new market has sprung up in its place.

The Stables Market, as it is now called, opened its doors on Thursday 14th Nov and is run and managed by Deidre Byrne and Charlie Collis, both former stallholders under the old regime.

Charlie, who runs the Betty Bojangle boutique, explained that the lease on the premises ran out and was not renewed. Instead a new five-year-lease was signed and he had to make the decision to either stay or move to Camden Street. “I thought carefully about it”, he said, “but decided to stay here because I believe Thomas Street to be the better location with better foot-fall.”

Deidre who is married to Alberto Previti agrees to staying on Thomas Street, and continues to run the Sicilian Bistro in the market. She explained the planned direction that the Stables is to take:

“We chose the name because we want to emulate the famous Stables Market in Camden, London. We aim to get together an eclectic mix of vintage, handicrafts, food and artisans of different nationalities. It would be really good to get an international buzz going, a vibrant mix of different people, cultures and backgrounds.

“We have retained the old cinema in the heart of the building and it will shortly (when the projector arrives) be reopening. Apart from showing classics and black and white films we will have nationally themed days when we might show, for instance, Italian or Brazilian films.”

The stage in the cinema area also remains in place and live music and open mic sessions take place over the weekend.

On the actual opening day many of the stalls remained vacant, but Deidre explained that several more have been taken up since and that she is confident that the uptake will continue.

“To tell you the truth it was an incredible rush to get opened at all,” she said. “We were working until two or three o’clock in the morning to get ready, and although there is still much to do, things are now coming together.”

The market’s opening times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm and Thursdays 11am to 8pm. The late Thursday opening is set to coincide with late night shopping in the area.

This is to take advantage of peak trading times, but the management will be monitoring the situation and it is hoped that as the enterprise gains momentum the opening days will be extended.

You can check the market’s Facebook page here.