Discover Altrincham Market
How long have you been thinking about visiting Altrincham Market? Our little corner of inspirational heaven, a place to feed the soul as much as the family. So many say; how do you manage the mornings? Does it ever feel like hard work? How do you cope with the travel?…the list goes on. We might vary our response, yet the answer is always similar…
The reasons why we adore our sweet Alty Market micro -bakery.
- If you have ever met the team, the market folks, you will understand why we love jumping out of the van for a full-on day of trading. The place has a special energy, it feels magic, and it’s all because of people; the hard-working folk, who graft, banter with a real kindness of spirit.
- All that’s underneath the roof, whether it’s produce, beautifully designed and crafted jewellery, through to cheese and wine! You go for independence, an artisan lifestyle. You go to support individuals, creatives who live by the witts and hopes.
All great markets need a narrative, helming the visual for all who visit – Jenny Thompson, more than The Market Boss. She’s a storyteller for crafted thinking.
The Market – Jenny Thompsons viewpoint
We set out to showcase the best of the NorthWest in 2013 when we took over running the Market from the council. Finding and persuading great producers to travel to Altrincham in those days was a BIG job because it had recently been voted ‘worst high st’ in Britain!
We are proud – It’s taken nine years, we have the most fantastic group of talented people to work with nine years later the story is very different – The Market is fantastic!
It has been challenging, but it truly is a pleasure to come to work each day and to be excited by their collective enthusiasm.
The right people have to be carefully selected. Not only for their excellent produce but also their ability to interact with customers and fellow traders.
We don’t have many rules at all…We don’t need them because we work with very decent people. We’d rather have ten exceptional traders than 100 mediocre ones. That’s our guarantee of excellence.
A few secrets to share with you:
Let us tell you something you don’t know about the Market and why it’s so special to the traders and those that visit?
You can be sure that each producer is chosen carefully for the reasons outlined above.
If you are buying something from the Market, you will know that our traders take what they are doing very seriously indeed. From raspberries to radishes, Raku pottery and Raw selvedge denim, they care where it comes from, what they do with it, and most of all, that you, their customers, love it as much as they do.
From what was the ‘worst high st’ to a town which really has something for everyone and is a great attraction for families really is an achievement and although we know the Market kickstarted that regeneration of the town, it has taken an enormous effort from a lot of people to be where we are now.
Our hopes
We hope that all that has been achieved will be cherished and respected… For many more years to come
It takes a certain amount of direction to achieve a good balance in a market and in a town…It certainly doesn’t just happen!
What’s the most important thing for you about the bread you serve from Lovingly Artisan and why?
That it is delicious of course! Nine years ago you couldn’t buy a loaf in Altrincham that cost more than £1, and that was a big problem for real bread lovers. We used to bake our own at home!
Now we are utterly spoiled for choice with the most excellent selection of loaves from a team of passionate bakers. There is actually a bit of a fight when we get our hands on a Mrs Kirkhams Cheese and Marmite loaf in the market house before we open…sliced thickly, lavished with real butter, it’s hard to find a reason not to jump out of bed and get to work to put those gazebos up!
Aidan and Catherine source grain from British producers, special grains and often ancient varieties which tend not to irritate people who have reactions to processed foods.
We love that they buy British, follow the seasons and tell the stories of the hard-working farmers behind the scenes grafting away to provide us with our daily bread. They have deservedly won so many awards they can barely list them, but we know their greatest reward is being busy and serving the discerning people of Altrincham every day!
All the kitchens in Market House use their bread too, and they even work with us to develop specific loaves. Like the sourdough Spiced Apple Fruit Loaf, which is served toasted in the coffee shop with handmade butter from Winter Tarn from Cumbrian butter maker Jeremy Jackson with seasonal soft set jam, made in-house with local fruit from the Market.
Jenny and I are sure all those that visit the Market have their reasons too. What’s yours? We’re nosey and we’d love to know!
Share your ideas. We love learning from fellow lifestyle lovers and market day visitors
Special thanks to Jenny Thompson for a heartfelt insight
Photo by Claire Harrison
Catherine x
