Now, on the first and third Saturday of each month, Nottingham’s Sneinton Vegan Market continues to provide homemade vegan food and products from independent businesses and start-up sellers.
Between these weeks, Sneinton’s traditional market is run to cater for everyone.
The market is currently run by Sneinton Community Traders Limited under co-directors Kevin Price and Trevor Coker. Before they came on board, the market was first established in October 2015 and they were the first vegan market in the UK of its kind.
Although not vegan themselves, both Kevin and Trevor joined the market three to four years ago to grow it to the next level and until recently there were 25-30 traders involved.
From starting out at running once a month, the market soon gained popularity to be extended to its twice a month 10am to 2pm slot.
Sneinton Market's social media has hit around 56,000 people every month and just last week their vegan market expanded to 48 traders.
“We were told before it [the market] isn’t viable but it is viable and sustainable,” Kevin told Nottinghamshire Live.
The market has noticeably grown throughout the pandemic. Kevin said: “People were anxious about being outside in the early stages of lockdown but we’re a safe place and it’s like bringing together a group of traders and people that really appreciate it.
“It’s not just about vegans, we are first and foremost a community market.”
Plenty of vegan traders come to the traditional markets every other Saturday as well as the vegan ones, because they do not get the opportunity to trade anywhere else at the moment because of the pandemic.
The community traders contribute to making the market a great attraction nestled in Nottingham’s creative quarter.
Traders such as Veggies are a key merchant for Sneinton's vegan market and have been established since 1984. A community-interest charity and regulars at festivals from Glastonbury and the Vegan Campout alike, Veggies were present at every market throughout lockdown. They are based in the volunteer-run Sumac Centre in Forest Fields, where they provide plant-based meals to those not as well off.
Giving back to the community also runs full circle with the market directors, who both help out with stalls with Kevin on vegan sourdough breads and Trevor on cider and vegan sweets.
Trevor sells Blue Barrel cider which is brewed locally in Sherwood with the apples sourced from a community garden in Clifton.
Both directors keep the market running aside of their day jobs with Kevin working as a will writer and the Co-op’s community organiser, and Trevor running his Psychedelic Dip business.
“Last Saturday, I was up at 4 o’clock in the morning and got home at 7 o’clock in night,” Kevin says, as he describes the hard work that goes into growing the market.
Being takeaway only, Sneinton market is suitably situated by Nottingham’s avenues with blocks nearby for people to sit on, eat and chat whilst following social distancing rules.
There are a lot of checks that the directors must do behind the scenes, but the turnout makes it all worth it.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/shopping/rise-uks-first-vegan-market-5526746
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