Cliftonville Farmers Market will mark 25 years of its volunteer run event this Sunday (September 27).
Founded in 2001 by Cliftonville Residents Association, the market started off with six stalls and has grown to attendance by up to 62 traders each month.
The event, which is still run by the same group with volunteers who give their time for free, is headed up by June Chadband who founded the market with late husband Keith.
It is still a family affair with June now helped by one of her twin sons, Matthew, and her grandsons.
For its first two decades Cliftonville Farmers Market took place at The Oval Lawns and Bandstand but in 2021 it had to move home following an asset transfer of the site by Thanet council.
The market now runs at Walpole green in Palm Bay Avenue, near the Coastguard station.
June said: “It is an authentic farmers’ market with four farmers who attend. We are multi award winning, voted ‘Best in Kent’ on seven occasions with three other prestigious awards.
“It has many vegan and gluten free stallholders and we have a large vegan following.
“After 20 years on the Oval Bandstand and lawns, we had to find a new home after TDC in a freehold community asset transfer gifted the site to another group.
“Our August market was cancelled so we had to find a new home. We relocated to the site we are on now at the Walpole Bay Lawns, behind the hotel, in September 2021 for our ’20th’ anniversary and here we still are.
“We all much prefer the new site, plus it has fantastic sea views.
“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved for the community as we are, after all, just a community group.”
The farmers market can boast some celebrity traders and shoppers, including Paul Hollywood whose bread sold at the market with sometimes Paul himself selling it. Timothy Spall, television and film star from ‘Auf Wiedersehen Pet’ and Mr Turner, visited on a few occasions with his mother who lived in the flats opposite and Pete Doherty, from The Libertines, has also shopped at the market.
June added: “I think Keith would be so proud of us for continuing with the market.”
The anniversary market takes place Sunday from 10am to 1pm and will also feature Bower Street Morris with their first set at 11am.
Leave a Reply