With a record 26 stalls, Driffield’s bustling Thursday market is going from strength to strength attracting visitors to the town and new traders offering residents a wide range of goods from clothing and jewellery to food and drink, flowers and toys.
Over recent months, 12 new traders have joined some of the established traders who describe Driffield as a friendly and welcoming town with a loyal customer base.
Driffield has a long tradition as a market town and in 2001 the market, which is run by Driffield Town Council, relocated from Cross Hill car park to its current location in the town centre helping to boost footfall and adding to the vitality of the town centre.
Town centre development officer Michelle Flake said she is delighted to see the market thriving.
“Last Thursday (27th March) we had 26 stalls, and it was fantastic to see so many people out and about enjoying the variety of traders we have at our Thursday market in Driffield,” she said.
“We have stall holders coming from as far as Bradford and Leeds every week because they love the atmosphere and the loyal customers.
“Since I started in July, we have 12 new traders who regularly attend the market who complement those who have been supporting Driffield for years – some for more than 20 years.
“We run live videos on social media to promote the market and list what stalls we have with us each week.
“The market traders see what we do to promote the market, and they pass on our details to other traders they meet.
“At Driffield we have kept our prices the same and we offer good value for money for the traders.
“In addition, the Tidy Team do a great job in helping the traders, which they really appreciate.
“The residents of Driffield are very loyal to the market and look forward to it every week and it also attracts visitors from other areas who choose Thursday to come and spend the day in Driffield for the market and then support the other local shops and businesses.
“It’s fantastic for the whole town to see the market going from strength to strength.”
Imran Khan has been making the journey from Bradford to attend Driffield market with his olive stall for the past 10 years.
He said the loyal customer base in Driffield makes the journey from west Yorkshire every week worthwhile.
But Driffield is Imran’s shortest commute with some of the other markets he attends as far away as Brighton, Camden in London and Stratford.
He said: “I love Driffield market; it is a great day out. The people here are great and I don’t consider it to be work.
“There is a good community in Driffield, and I do very well, and I like that the people are very loyal and come back to support me.
“I met a family from Edinburgh who visit East Yorkshire every year and they have sent me a text to ask if I will be at the market when they are next here and they will come to Driffield.
“So, the market helps to put Driffield on the map!”
Barry Foster from Thorley’s Bakery said attending the market has been fantastic for business.
“We have doubled our takings on a Thursday because of having a stall” he said.
“We sell three times as much bread on the stall as we do in the shop on Middle Street South.”
Thorley’s Bakery has been running for 90 years and has been in Barry’s family for 47 years. Some of the most popular products on the stall include the Chia loaf and the Donker, which is a Dutch bread.
Another popular treat is the Driffield tart.
“This is my mum Avis Cooke’s recipe and is popular among our customers.”
Ryan Jepson Cheeses is a popular market stall offering up to 80 different cheeses, biscuits and butter.
The most popular cheese among the Driffield residents is Yorkshire Black.
Ryan said: “We have good steady trade in Driffield and a steady stream of regulars.
“It is helped by the weather today because it helps to bring people out but there is good footfall.”
Susan Sutcliffe has been bringing her ladies’ fashion stall to Driffield market from Leeds for more than 20 years and she said the market is definitely on the up.
“The market is improving again,” she said. “There are more traders and that brings more footfall. It is good value for the traders as well.
“Driffield has been a good market over the years and really improved when it moved to the main street from Cross Hill car park because it is much busier.”
Just a few months after first attending Driffield market with their sterling silver jewellery business Eden’s Elegance, Emma and Lizzie Stadler said they look forward to their weekly visits.
“We love it here,” they said. “Everyone is so welcoming, and Michelle has been amazing.
“There is a friendly, family community and we look forward to coming here every week.”
Another newcomer to Driffield Market is the Scotch Egg Guy, Stuart Rose. He said: “From the word go I have sold out every week.
“We offer all different flavours of Scotch Egg, sometimes up 15 different flavours and this week (Thursday) we will have some new flavours lamb and mint and pork and rhubarb.
“We offer an egg-less version for people who don’t like eggs.”
With Mother’s Day last Sunday, Mike Watts’ flower stall was particularly busy last Thursday.
Mike has been attending Driffield market for almost 20 years and said it is particularly busy at the moment.
“It’s always been lovely at Driffield, and we have a very good customer base.
“There is a lot of support from the people who operate the market and it sems to be especially busy at the moment.”
Tony Wallis from Northmen Spirit has been attending Driffield for the past few weeks. He also attends Cottingham, Beverley and the Humber Bridge market and said last Thursday was the busiest he had seen Driffield with a lot of traders and residents coming out to support the weekly market.
Henry Naylor Funeral Directors also attend Driffield market every month and feel that it is a more relaxed environment for people to ask questions and get information.
