Castle Market meets Division Street. A sign of things to come?

August 13, 2013

Castle Market is due to shut soon. Traders are working out their next move. Go to the new market and pay higher rates? Or take a chance and find a new way to run their business?

Simmonite’s Butchers has opted for the latter, bringing their family run butchers, fishmongers and delicatessen back to the high street, with their new shop on Division Street. Some would argue that this is where it belongs, Mark – the owner, says that it’s a sign of the times. People don’t want to buy meat from supermarkets anymore, citing trust and cost as the main driving factors behind this change – people now want to buy their produce for a good price from local, independent traders.

We stopped to have a chat with Mark about his shop. He is proud, very proud of his city center shop front – and so he should be. He stood outside talking to passers by, handing out leaflets and coaxing them into his shop. He spoke passionately about his business, and told us about his life’s work at Castle Market. About the lack of drainage causing the smell we all associate with Castle Market, and the reduction of council funding that’s seen the current market premises fall into disrepair.

The simple shop front and British-style displays ooze everything I love about Castle Market. I LOVE the fact that it isn’t trying to be a fancy/rustic Anglo-Italian/French delicatessen filled with foods we can’t pronounce. It’s the very best of British, on our High Street. Times are changing and Mark and his team have made a wise move in my opinion. Even better – they’re Castle Market prices. For less that £4 I get a huge lump of goats cheese, 100g of delicious olives and two mini pork pies. I hope it stays this way – if it does I’ll be in every other day!

Want to pop in? They’ve thought of us 9-5ers and are open from 7am to 7pm EVERYDAY!

I’m genuinely excited for them – I hope this is a sign of what’s to come.

Until tomorrow

Hayley Jayne xx

Categories: Musings