Durham Markets - In Focus

05/10/2026

❤️ It takes a community to make a market... and what a wonderful community we have!

On Saturday, Mary Kelly Foy MP presented our Market Manager James with a copy of the Early Day Motion she laid in Parliament, celebrating Durham Markets’ 175th anniversary and recognising the hardworking people who make it all happen. 📜

Mary, thank you for this lovely recognition, your kind words and your continued support. Having our markets’ contribution to Durham celebrated in Parliament is something we’re incredibly proud of, and that pride belongs to everyone who plays a part. ❤️

To our traders, who have made the markets their home and fill them with character, creativity and expertise. To our staff, whose hard work keeps everything running, including so much that happens behind the scenes. To our volunteers, who give their time and talents to projects such as our poppy campaign. To our visitors who attend our many events throughout the year. And to our customers, who keep coming through our doors and browsing our outdoor stalls, supporting independent businesses with every purchase.

Whether you’ve shopped with us for decades or have only just discovered us, you’re part of our story. Every visit, recommendation and shared memory helps keep Durham Markets at the heart of our city.

For 175 years, these markets have brought people together. Thank you for helping them thrive. This recognition is yours to share. 🥰

Here’s to the next chapter, together!

04/10/2026

Lovely having Mary supporting Durham Markets yesterday and having lots of fun with Durham Vintage Superstore - Bishop Auckland 🥰

11/08/2026

📚✨ Calling all little bookworms! ✨📚

Durham Market Place will be filled with stories, creativity and FREE family fun when our Children’s Book Festival comes to the city!

📅 Friday 21st August
⏰ 9am–4pm
📍 Durham Market Place
🎟️ FREE to attend!

Our Book Tent will welcome local children’s authors and storytellers from 10am, with readings, crafts and interactive activities throughout the day:

📖 10am – Rebecca Usbourne Books
Help decide what happens next in an interactive adventure story!

🐞 11:15am – Elaina Moon
Enjoy Little Ladybird and the Perilous Picnic and make a ladybird bookmark.

🐢 12:30pm – Karen Crear
Meet Humphrey the Tortoise, enjoy a reading and colour characters from Where There’s a Wheel, There’s a Way. You can even see Karen’s original handwritten and illustrated book, created when she was just nine!

🔎 1:45pm – Creature Comforts
Explore the natural world with Little Jars of Wonder.

🐭 3pm – Cath Wren
Discover an incredible endangered mammal through an interactive Pangolin Blues session, then make mice and decorate a garden inspired by Fred!

There will also be:

🎨 A FREE kids’ activity tent
🌈 FREE face painting from 11am–2pm
🛍️ Market stalls including books, arts and crafts, gifts, dog treats, food, drinks and more!

This festival is all about celebrating the joy of reading, bringing stories to life and showing children where their imaginations can take them. 💛

A very special thank you goes to our outdoor trader Annette of . Although her own business isn’t book-related, Annette felt so passionately about creating this event that she has organised it in her free time, with support from Durham Markets. What an absolute star! 🌟

Come and enjoy a wonderful day of stories, creativity and family fun!

07/08/2026

🍭 COULD THIS BE YOUR SIGN TO DO SOMETHING SWEET? 🍬

We’re looking for a fabulous sweet shop to join us inside Durham Market Hall, and we’d love to hear from anyone ready to take the next step with their business!

Perhaps you already have a sweet business and are looking to move or expand. Maybe you currently trade at outdoor markets and would love a permanent indoor base. Or perhaps you’ve always dreamed of opening your very own sweet shop but have never quite taken the plunge…

Well, this could be your sign that the time has finally come! ✨

Joining Durham Market Hall means becoming part of a 175-year heritage and our wonderful Durham Markets family. You’ll have a brilliant team on hand to offer help and support throughout the trading day, along with friendly and supportive neighbouring traders ready to welcome you.

It’s also an affordable way to trade in the heart of Durham city centre, without many of the overheads that usually come with renting a standalone shop.

Could this be the sweet opportunity you’ve been waiting for? Or do you know somebody who would be perfect? Please share this post, tag them below, or send it their way! 🍭

To find out more, message us directly or email our Market Manager, James, at [email protected].

17/07/2026

🐊 NEW OUTDOOR TRADER 🐙 Something exciting is coming to Durham Market this Saturday… 💛

We’re delighted to welcome Inky & Co to Durham Outdoor Market for their very first soft opening!

Inky & Co is a brand new local business specialising in vintage, branded and quality preloved kids clothing from newborn to 12 years, with brands including Carhartt, Ralph Lauren, OshKosh, Nike, Adidas, Columbia and many more.

This Saturday is a little preview ahead of their full shop opening in Framwellgate Moor in just a couple of weeks. They’ll be bringing along a handpicked selection of their stock to give everyone a taste of what’s to come.

👏🏻 Even better, Inky & Co will also be joining us as regular Durham Market traders, so you’ll be seeing plenty more of them in the months ahead.

We love supporting local independent businesses, and we’re so pleased to welcome Inky & Co to the Durham Market family. If you’re visiting us this Saturday, make sure you pop over, say hello and give them a warm Durham Market welcome! 💛

17/07/2026

🧺 Have you ever fancied making your own willow-woven basket or simply trying a new hobby? Here's your chance! 🧺

As part of our Nature Nook event on Friday, 24th July, you can join us for a fun, crafty session making your own willow basket in a relaxed, hands-on two-hour workshop! Morning and afternoon sessions are available. 🌾🪢👩‍🌾🧑‍🌾

Get ready to dive into the art of willow work with our hands-on, in-person workshop at our Nature Nook in Durham Market Hall. Hosted by the talented and knowledgeable Ruth from Sylvan Skills, this workshop is perfect for beginners and craft lovers alike. This session will guide you through making your very own willow basket. 🧺

Relax, create, and connect with nature while you learn cool basket-making skills. Each workshop costs just £29, lasts two hours and is suitable for ages 16 and over. If you have your own secateurs, it would be helpful if you could bring them along, although it's not essential.

The workshop takes place inside Durham Market Hall, and there will be signage and staff directing you where to go.

The morning session is from 10am to 12pm, and the afternoon session is from 1pm to 3pm!

Head to https://durhammarkets.co.uk/event/nature-nook/ to book your place!

Know someone who would enjoy a fun day out? Tag them below! 👇🌻

30/06/2026

✨ Join us for a mega triple market weekend! ✨

🌟 First up this Thursday, we have our popular monthly Craft and Producers' Market, where many of the region's talented makers come along to Durham Market Place with everything from food and drink to home decor and gifts.

🌟 Then, on Friday, BookWyrm is celebrating their fourth birthday in style 🥳 with a craft fayre, joined by many of their favourite crafters, artists, and small businesses. Expect lots of colour and creativity!

🌟 Finally, for the hat trick, our weekly Saturday Outdoor Market is back, taking over the Market Place, with around 40 local traders to bring the hustle and bustle... and lots of goodies! PLEASE NOTE: next week, there will be no weekend market due to the Durham Miners' Gala, so be sure to come along this Saturday to not miss out two weeks in a row!

31/05/2026

What a fabulous day! ❤️ 🌈

23/05/2026