Food, flowers and frames: Why Shrewsbury's market is best in Britain

Beaming traders and happier-than-usual customers bustled around on a chilly Friday morning, the sun shining through the gallery windows as the stalls open for business on their first day in Britain’s favourite market.

Shrewsbury Market Hall beat indoor markets from across the country to scoop the accolade, which those who work there hope will bring as big a boost to footfall as it has to morale.

Take a look inside Britain's favourite market:

The market has been a focal point of the town centre for more than 50 years, but over the last decade it has undergone an evolution that has brought back the customers in their droves and seen the waiting list for a stall swell to 250.

Walking the floor with facilities manager Kate Gittins, it’s clear to see how it won over the Great British Market Awards judges and mystery shoppers to scoop the accolade on Thursday.

Hairdressers, card stalls and bike shops sit side-by-side with florists, framers, fishmongers, as well as Indian and Thai food, tapas - and how many markets have their own gin bar?

An influx of independent crafters over the last few years has made the upstairs distinctly different to the ground floor, where the traditional butchers, delicatessen and veg stall have been part of the furniture as long as anyone can remember.

“It’s all down to you,” Kate tells the traders who shout their congratulations as she passes.

Most likely it’s the balance of old and new businesses, supported by Kate and her forward-thinking team who have steered the market forward to create something better than they had imagined.

“It has been a transformation, almost unrecognisable really, from where we were to where we are now,” Kate says.

“When I came here in 2006 we had about four traders upstairs, now as you can see it’s fully occupied.

"I have been very lucky in attracting young and enthusiastic traders and they are prepared to push the boundaries and take risks.

“I always had a vision, and this is what we have achieved. It’s taken a long time, but I feel like the content we have now is as good as it’s ever been.”

Lin Tisdale has watched the market progress from her flower stall since 1991 - and the market wasn’t the only thing flourishing, as love soon blossomed between her and stall rent collector Rob. They married in 1999, and since leaving the market in 2008 he’s helped Lin with the business.

“I’m just proud to be a part of it, it’s like one big family” she says.

“It’s not like working in a shop by yourself - people might come in here to buy a loaf of bread and end up leaving with some of my flowers - and all the traders are just absolutely lovely.”

Next to Lin’s Flowers is one of the market’s newest additions, Camel & Co, run by Rona Roberts, who arrived just six months ago when she took redundancy from her teaching job and set up a stall.

“Lin has been very supportive of me, and the regular customers too,” she says.

“I had amazing feedback after Christmas, that has been the best thing so far. I absolutely love it, the whole market is so vibrant and full of everything you need.”

It’s not just teachers who have found themselves drawn to the market; manufacturing manager Phil Roe opened Urban Bikes UK six years ago while nurse Charika Manning has run Charika Creations since 2016.

Phil says the best part part of the job is getting to know the customers and other traders - “especially the ones who do food!”

He says being named Britain’s favourite is brilliant news as the market continues to go from strength to strength.

“We do go through black times as well so it’s nice to have a bit of sunshine.

“I have been here six years and every one has been better than the previous one. We have come a long way.”

Charika, who now splits her time between nursing and selling her homemade accessories, says: “I’ve settled in so well, I love it.

"When I moved to Shrewsbury in 2004 this market was very dead, but gradually Kate has given it a facelift - it’s almost like a cosmopolitan now.”