Blackpool’s Abingdon Street Market retail area now open

The retail offer at Blackpool’s Abingdon Street Market has officially opened.

The doors that open out onto Abington Street itself are once again in full use, allowing customers to enjoy the array of market stalls open for business.

The opening of the retail offer at the new-look Abingdon Street Market is part of a much wider plan to regenerate Blackpool town centre, with aims to boost the economy, create jobs and provide more things to see and do.

The popular food hall element of the market has been open since May and has quickly become a key favourite with both residents and visitors of all ages.

With six independent eateries, two bars and an on-site coffee shop, teamed with a host of entertainment and events taking place, the food and drink offer has exceeded expectation in terms of footfall and business projections.

Local operating company, The Little Blackpool Leisure Company, is excited to roll out the market area phase and has undertaken the process to recruit retailers into the new market.

After attracting significant demand, the team appointed an extensive range of retailers offering a variety of wares for everyone to enjoy.

The retailers and services available at the market include:

Abingdon General Store - food and general items

Cake Tin Bakery - brookies, cakes, brownies, cookie dough and more

Funky Global - homeware from around the world

Grumpy Girl Graphics - art/prints

Inertial Sounds - records and clothing

North Shore Surf Shop - beachy/surf clothing and apparel

Oisin Vintage - thrift store

Peppermint Jones - contemporary homeware

Selenite Gifts - crystals and gifts

The Sneaker Cleaner - shoe cleaning, restoration and sales

The Strand Collective - art supplies and camera library

The retail area also hosts an arcade, a dedicated pop-up from Blackpool libraries and a ‘space to create’, an area for creative events, workshops and small pop-up markets!

The Little Blackpool Leisure Company team has rolled out a successful and comprehensive programme of entertainment and events to date, and has plans to extend this further. With seasonal themed events for Halloween and Christmas, bespoke interest fairs, library pop-ups, art and craft based sessions and much more – there’s something for all ages.

The market is available for use as an events space, and is also used for community events, live music and charity-led initiatives.

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place), Blackpool Council, said: “We’re delighted that Abingdon Street Market is forging ahead and opening the retail part of the market.

‘’Since their initial opening in May it has proven to be very popular and goes to show that quality venues like this were needed and wanted in Blackpool. It was really important to us to bring back to life this historic underutilised building in Blackpool and see it fully open, updated and buzzing again. I’m really excited to see the final piece of the jigsaw put in place and to see people shopping in the market once again.

‘’We have been fortunate to receive funding for some of this redevelopment work and I’m pleased to be able to say the project so far has created over 40 jobs for local people in the first phase alone. We encourage everyone to head down and take a look at the new market units.”

Jake Whittington, Director of Little Blackpool Leisure Company Limited, said: “We're extremely pleased to see the opening of the retail market. We have a great mix of retailers that come from across Blackpool and bring something new to the town centre.

‘’With low cost rent and high footfall, we hope this is a place where independent local retailers will flourish. We’ve also created a community space that can be used for a range of workshops, charity-led activities, talks and co-working events.”

Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Chair, Debbie Francis OBE, said: ‘’“Abingdon Street Market's transformation, and the recent redevelopment and extension of Houndshill Shopping Centre, have both been supported by the LEP’s Getting Building Fund.

‘’It’s therefore great to see such investments helping to rejuvenate Blackpool's town centre, creating new jobs, and adding substantial value to the resort’s wider retail and leisure offer, in the process.”

The retail area is open Tuesday - Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Abingdon Street Market has received £3.6 million from the UK Government through the Getting Building Fund, £315,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £90k through the Historic England Heritage Action Zone programme.