News
Council insists Bury Market is ‘still open for business’ despite shock temporary closure
49 traders at the world-famous markets have been ordered to shut up shop for the time being.
Emily Sergeant -
27th October 2023 
Bury Council has insisted that Bury Market is “still open for business” despite a number of shock temporary stall closures.
It comes after the news broke this morning (27 October) that a total of 49 traders based in the indoor section of the Greater Manchester town’s world-famous Market had been ordered, with immediate effect, to shut up shop for the time being.
The multi award-winning Market – which has been voted the nation’s favourite market on two occasions recently – dates all the way back to 1440, and has operated from several town centre sites over the centuries, but it moved to its current home in the early 1970s after the previous market hall burned down in 1968.
Closures are while necessary safety investigations on the Market’s roof and building are conducted.
In a statement addressing the shock partial closure of the Market today, Bury Council said the safety investigations required to be carried out will determine whether any repairs to the roof and building are required.
This is because some RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) was used in the original construction of the building.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, who is the cabinet member for Culture and the Economy at Bury Council, said the safety of traders and customers is the Council’s “top priority”.
“As a precaution, we have taken the decision to close the market hall while we carry out further investigatory work,” Cllr Morris explained.
“These measures only affect the indoor stalls, so our large outdoor market, and the fish and meat hall, will remain open for business [and] we are working with the 49 traders affected to find nearby alternative premises for them while this safety work is carried out.
“Once the site investigations have been carried out, we will be able to announce what remedial work needs to be done, and what the timescale for that will be.
“But in the meantime, please show your support for our brilliant market traders and come along and snap up the usual range of bargains in our unique market atmosphere.”
Bury Council has apologised to all the affected traders, and to the Market’s many customers for the “inconvenience” the temporary closures will cause.
Read more:
- Bury Market has been named as Britain’s favourite market once again
- This Elvis-obsessed record shop on Bury Market is selling old-school rock and indie favourites
- Rishi Sunak confuses Bury with Burnley in live TV interview at ‘world famous’ market
No reopening dates have been confirmed, as of yet.
Featured Image – Bury Market (via Facebook)
