Pendle Insider went and spoke to traders down at the market and they seemed to be as confused as anybody else. "Poor communication", we were told by one of the traders. Contradictory rumours swirled suggesting the opening hours would be either Mon-Saturday or Weds-Sunday.
We found the Market Manager, Steven Reed, and asked some question but he was evasive and not keen to share any details.
Fortunately, we know people who know people - we're not called Pendle Insider for nothing - and we've received the Council documentation sent out to market traders.
So, here's the lowdown
- Lengthy negotiations with Market Quarter Group - preferred operator
- Pendle Borough Council will manage the market trader units for up to three years
- Market Quarter Group will manage the building and food and drinks
- Opening times: Weds to Sun 10am-5pm or later
- Market rates frozen for first 18 months
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| Shaw's post on Facebook |
The Shaw's Fruit & Veg issue
Long-term market trader, Shaw's Fruit & Veg, recently put out a Facebook post about Pendle Council putting the rates up for traders. Pendle Insider reached out to Kieron at Shaw's but were unable to meet with him.
After doing some research, we believe Shaw's is in a unique position where, unlike the other market traders, they were on a lease to rent a unit, not a stall, in the market. It is believed that the lease with Shaw's was up for renewal and this is where the price increase came in - because it is a leased unit, not a market stall.
Either way, the fruit & veg shop of over 60 years in the market, wasn't happy. A meeting between the Council and Kieron took place last week in efforts to resolve the situation, but we are yet to hear about the outcome.
Statement from new operators Market Quarter Group
Nick Hynes, Regeneration Director for MQG and Ged Lynch, Head of Food and Beverage at MQG:
"We are incredibly proud to be bringing Colne Market Hall to life and to be contributing to the next chapter of the town's story.Opening in late Spring 2026, Colne Market Hall has been carefully designed as a modern, welcoming space for both Colners and visitors to gather, connect and take pride in.Rooted in tradition, but reimagined for contemporary life, the hall will complement existing market traders with six independent food and drink operators within a vibrant communal setting, alongside a year-round programme of events and community activity.Markets have always been place of exchange - of goods, ideas and relationships. Colne Market Hall continues that tradition with modern standards. Our ambition is simple: to strengthen the fabric of our town through thoughtful curation and local collaboration.This project is about far more than retail and hospitality units. It is about weaving pride and prosperity into everything we do. We want the Market Hall to become a fully integrated anchor of the town centre - increasing footfall and encouraging shared customer journeys between existing independent businesses on the high street.Our approach is to complement, not compete. A rising tide lifts all ships, and by raising standards, we aim to support vitality across the whole high street.A key focus will be championing independent operators, both in terms of the market traders and the food and beverage offering. We are currently curating six high-quality food and drink concepts and working with the Council to ensure a smooth transition for existing market operators.As we move closer to opening, we look forward to beginning conversations with local community members and groups as well as traders and residents. We will be holding a community consultation event in March and look forward to welcoming existing traders, local businesses and residents to share their views and contribute to the project.We are excited to open the doors this year and see the space become what markets have always been at their best: places where both community and local economy thrive."
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| Pendle Council's document to market traders |
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