South Shields Market

2nd. observation - when is a market not a market?

The answer to that question in relation to South Shields market appears to be:

“Any time after 3.00 pm on Monday, Friday, or Saturday”

This is something that I am increasingly finding a little annoying, I was under the impression that when a trader pays for a pitch on our Market Place in South Shields, they agree to trade up until 4.30 pm. Yet for the past month most stalls have been vacated by 3.00 pm and the Market Place has been deserted by 3.30 pm, yet solicitors working within South Shields Town Hall continue to expend our money protecting this situation with a medieval law reciting the length you can walk with an ass!

One could understand if the weather was atrocious, with howling gales, driving hailstone or torrential downpours, but the last three market days have seen blue skies and pleasant temperatures, so why do they want to be away so early?

I thought we were in the business of trying to attract more shoppers and tourists to the town?

They’d best not decide to travel here on a whim to the market just because it’s a sunny afternoon then.

I’m sure someone will have a word in the most appropriate ears.

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