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Could the Central Market become one of the island's top night spots? A growing number of islanders - including the Government's CEO - think it should be.
Express explores why a market by moonlight could be a glowing new opportunity for foodies, retailers and restaurateurs alike...
According to Government CEO Suzanne Wylie, who was previously Belfast's Chief Executive, thinks that transforming the Central Market into a “new place that comes alive at night” could create a brand new create somewhere for “the evening economy beyond the Weighbridge area” and “help with investment in the Halkett Street area of town”.
Mrs Wylie suggested it as one of “many bright ideas which have come forward" at a recent Jersey Hospitality Association lunch event during which she spoke about "nurturing what we have and investing in the gaps".
She explained that the Market in St Helier “could potentially be used in late afternoon and evening for pop-up food and bars”.
Pictured: Government CEO, Suzanne Wylie.
The Government CEO compared the idea to the success of the “twilight markets” in Belfast, where she used to live and work.
Mrs Wiley’s vision for a “new place that comes alive at night” would be to “pedestrianise the area immediately outside the market to create pavement café settings and to potentially weatherproof that street scene to create a spot for street entertainment and hospitality”.
She believes that this would create somewhere for “the evening economy beyond the Weighbridge area” and “help with investment in the Halkett Street area of town”.
Marcus Calvani, one of the Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Jersey Hospitality Association, says that he “absolutely loves the idea”.
He said: “We need to modernise the Central Market to make it as vibrant as possible and as financially beneficial for its tenants. Markets need to adapt to fit the demands of today for both visitors and locals, and not be scared of changed”
Mr Calvani praised some “great examples globally” of markets which have modernised successfully, including Borough Market in London and the Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid which both have particular focuses on local food and drink.
He added: “Belfast is also a great example of how change doesn’t have to cost a lot. With some twinkling lights and different opening hours, they managed to create a whole new energy for traders in and around the market.”
Pictured: Marcus and Ana Calvani, the Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Jersey Hospitality Association.
At the moment, the market is owned and managed by Jersey Property Holdings with a huge range of different tenants running a wide variety of businesses. Mr Calvani suggested that the next steps forwards would be to “work in a manageable way with existing tenants”.
He explained: “Many businesses rely on the Central Market for their income, so it wouldn’t be feasible to just shut the market down to modernise it and then re-open. It needs to be a step-by-step change.
“There has definitely been a slow and steady change in the Central Market over the last five or six years, with a number of new food and drink businesses opening. These are all very busy and vibrant during lunchtime hours so I think it is fair to assume that they would also be popular if they were opening in the evenings too.”
Currently, the Central Market is closed all-day on Sunday and on Thursday afternoons. It also closes at 17:00 every other weekday evening, not allowing much time for those who work 09:00 – 17:00 jobs.
Mr Calvani admitted that these times are “not great for profit” and suggested “maximising operating hours for modern demand”. He suggested that this could be a case of market traders ditching the early morning starts in favour of opening later into the evening to attract the post-work crowd.
Pictured: The the Mercado de San Miguel has become a hugely popular tourist destination for Spanish food and drink.
The Co-Chief Executive Officer of the JHA explained that he would love to see the Central Market become a “shining beacon” of creativity, culture and start-ups “as visitors would expect”, particularly as the Central Market is the second most visited location by tourists in Jersey.
He added that promoting “experiential retail” is especially important as “vendors can’t fight the convenience of online shopping”, but creating “somewhere that people actually want to be to experience is something that can’t be replicated online”.
Praising the Government, he said that they were there to help “remove red tape and overcome barriers” for traders. Mr Calvani added that if traders can come up with ideas for the future, then “the Government are prepared to listen, and the Jersey Hospitality Industry are here to assist in any way we can”.
Melanie May and James Boothman are the owners of La Bouche, a casual dining restaurant located in the Central Market which serves “brunch, lunch and cocktails celebrating the best of Jersey produce”.
The pair explained that they have been “in discussions” about the possibility of late-night markets with Jersey Property Holdings, and “even sent a proposal for some market lates”. It was “loosely promised to have some dates in the summer months to open twilight on certain days”, but they never heard anything back.
Melanie and James described the process as “frustrating”.
They added: “We have had two questionnaires, none of which have had results back from yet either. We have also had experts over from thriving London markets to ask those same questions again with equally no results.”
Pictured: La Bouche serves “brunch, lunch and cocktails celebrating the best of Jersey produce” in the Central Market.
Despite the lack of progress so far, the business owners are still “100% behind the market being a destination place in the in the evening”.
They explained: “This could bring so much more revenue to the island and bring the centre of town alive again at night. The market being closed cuts off so many other streets that in the day it joins people up to.
“The face of the market has changed since we have been here. A different, more adventurous culture frequent the market including locals and tourists that are looking for the towns history and to taste the local produce, and we want to cater for this.”
Having lived and worked around Spitalfields, Maltby Street, and Borough Market, Melanie and James have seen first-hand the benefits that thriving markets bring day and night.
They added: “Since the pandemic, so many restaurants have had to close whilst others that haven’t (like us!) are struggling with rising rents and produce, so thriving markets would prevent those businesses closing too!”
Pictured: The late-night opening of the market would also benefit the businesses in the surrounding area.
Logistically, Melanie and James believe that the Fish Market being able to open at night proves that it is a “no brainer”.
The pair said: "We get asked on a daily basis by customers: ‘Why don’t you open at night? It’s such a shame.’ Just imagine how beautiful the Central market is at night, and so fragrant with all the beautiful flowers.”
They added: “Since the pandemic, it really would be nice to have evening times to trade to create a boost in footfall for not just market tenants, but those that surround too. The market being closed in the evenings cuts off so many passage ways and makes this side of town a ghost town at night.”
Pictured: Spitalfields Market is transformed by Christmas lights in December.
The La Bouche owners admitted that an issue that would “need addressing” are the flower and vegetable stalls which are “left open and unattended overnight”, but state-of-the-art cameras have recently been installed around the Central Market, which Melanie and James believe “would mean being able to manage the area and solve this issue”.
Melanie and James described when the Central Market opened once at night for the Jersey Architects Association's 60 year anniversary and "everyone commented that it was so magical!"
They believe that this shows that late-night opening has "already been tried and tested", and was proved a success.
Pictured: One problem that would need to be addressed is the flower and vegetable stalls which are “left open and unattended overnight”.
The pair believe that the most magical time of year with a late-night market would be Christmas time.
They explained: "We could even get a grotto in here for the children and offer small food business start-ups a platform.
"When the Christmas Lights are switched on in town, nothing usually happens. It's so derelict, but instead why can't the Market be the main contributors to the town’s entertainment? We see so many wasted opportunities, it’s painful!
"We know the Central Market has great potential."
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