The Rye Farmers Market is in danger of closing according to one of its regular customers who was there this morning. Established as a weekly Wednesday fixture in the car park behind the Cinque Ports Arms carpark, the market’s success has been largely attributable to the excellent meat and vegetable stall run by Darren Lewis of VJ Game, supported by Eric with his fine selection of French cheeses and Darren’s partner selling home-made cakes and pastries.
It enjoyed good business in pre-Covid times but has since then seen a reduction both in the number of stallholders and of clientele. One resident who lives nearby heard from Darren this morning that without more customers the market’s future is in doubt. It is a case of use it or lose it, she said.
Image Credits: Rye News library , Kenneth Bird .
Is there a reason why the farmers market is on a different day to the Thursday weekly market? Couldnt they move it to a Thursday and take space in the regular market along with all the other stall holders and take advantage of having a far greater footfall every week? Also, being tucked away behind the Cinque Ports Arms is not the best location, its not visible enough and acess to it isnt great either. Perhaps people just dont know of its existance.
I rely on the high quality of everything in Darren’s stall as well as the French Cheeses in the Wednesday market on a weekly basis. It would be a great shame to lose them so hope a solution can be found to support their businesses.
They are also to be congratulated for turning up in all weathers!!
Could part of the problem be that not everyone knows it exists? I know about the Thursday market, but have never heard about this Wednesday Rye Farmers Market. And how long do they operate through the day, and why doesn’t this story give that information? So many of these markets start to pack-up midday. Not everyone finds morning food shopping convenient. I’m happy to go along now I know it exists.
Why did it move from the Strand, always looked to be busier than it does at its present location.
It’s an excellent thing, local produce at it’s best, but new customers might have been put off by the lack of stalls lately. As a regular customer who knows what is usually available, I will return, but it does need more stall holders to encourage more new customers. When we last went there, Darren was on his own.
That particular week, Eric had Covid in his family. Agreed it needs more stalls and better signs and publicity.
I agree with Tony Edwards “ Why did it move from the Strand “ where it attracted both locals and tourists “ it is not visible where it is situated now. We lost the market from its old position “ The Strand”
But every Sunday morning Rye has to put up with Motorcycles on the Strand and the awful noise they make.
I have just counted 52 !!! I spoke to one gentleman on his bike and asked him why they make such a noise. ( they remove their baffles) he had no answer. !!
Let’s have the market back and ban the motorcycles.
I think holding the farmer’s market in the courtyard of a pub that is invariably festooned with England flags and Sky Sports signs is a mistake, considering the traders that attend are selling things that appeal to people who aren’t likely to be attracted by such an aesthetic.
Why not bring this brilliant high quality Wednesday market back into the heart of the town under cover at the Town Hall? It should be heralded as a flagship enterprise for Rye (always there without fail every week even in our worst weather recently!)
Hi, I’m Eric, I run this little market. To answer your questions :
The market is every Wednesdays morning, until 12 noon.
We move from the Strand Quay, as it was too big and expensive for us, issues with bikers, people who could not cross the busy road due to their age, and people who got confused between a farmers market, and a free parking spot while going to town.
We can’t move the farmers market to the general one, as we are both busy on thursdays.
To get more traders, we need more support. Locals where glad to find us during the first lock down, but they never came back!
We got signs between the pub and the post office, and cross the road. The farmers market has always been on Wednesday, for over 2 decades, if you are local, and haven’t heard of it, there is not much we can do.
The pub’s owners have been great support, they let us trade during the lock down, when mainly council markets where closed.
Last thing, we run a market for the locals, selling essentials. I appreciate that tourist are disappointed, but they not looking to buy food.
Should you know anyone who wish to join the market, please let me know.
Eric
I wondered if the pictures were taken, as I thought the bread stall hasn’t been there.
Being where they are was the best potion they could fined after they ad to leave the Strand.
Then of course the back entrance was locked off when the car park rules changed effecting also the Vets.
The Cinque pub has done a lot of work at the back and improved the situation there for the stalls. With seats and coffee and drinks available.
What is needed is more stall holders..to get those you need volume of customers . But you don’t get volume of customers with out stall holders it’s a chicken and egg situation.
There was the good plant stall which would be wonderful if another one could come.and there use to be the Pett Level tea company …
Use it or loose it yes but if anyone has ideas of who would like to have a stall would help and better advertising …Clearer signage on the day to direct people to the site..
Well said Judith Gibson, yes access is not so good now, and it’s a pity the market owners couldn’t help the situation and let the pub open their rear gate on a Wednesday for this popular market, on another point maybe the ones that hide behind their keyboards, without posting their full names, could stop the negativity regarding the pub, because if the landlord and landlady had not offered their premises, this popular Wednesday market, would have struggled to find other premises close to the town.