High ambitions for the woman tasked with putting the markets back into Market Drayton
We had a chat with the new manager of Market Drayton markets, who has ambitious dreams for the north Shropshire market town.
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In April, Shropshire Council took direct control of the indoor and outdoor markets in Market Drayton after it faced criticism from traders.
With the takeover came the appointment of manager Kate Gittins, who had been at the helm of Shrewsbury's award-winning indoor market for 18 years.
Under Kate's supervision, Shrewsbury Market Hall underwent a huge transformation. In June 2006, the market was on its knees, with many empty stalls and few customers.
But 12 years later it had bagged the title of 'Britain's Favourite Market', a title it would go on to reclaim in 2023 and 2024.
The National Association of British Market Authorities, which awards the title, also gave Kate a lifetime achievement award in 2023. Now, she can't see why Market Drayton can't achieve the same.
"There was no more for me to do in Shrewsbury," Kate explained. "I felt like it was everything that I dreamed it would become. Having won Britain’s Favourite Market twice in a row and receiving my lifetime achievement award - I felt that was probably as far as I was going to get.
