News / St Nick's Market
Traders in St Nick’s could have to pay increased fees based on turnover
Traders at St Nick’s Market face a fee hike as Bristol City Council is planning to take a slice of their income.
Food stalls in the Glass Arcade look likely to be hit the hardest, with a council report saying “it is not reasonable for the most profitable element of the market to be charged the least”.
Three-quarters of the 3.7m visitors to the market in 2023 visited the Glass Arcade which has long-running and popular stalls including Big Juice Bar, Matina, the Moorish Cafe, the Olive Works, Pieminister and Portuguese Taste.
is needed now More than ever
The Glass Arcade is the most visited part of St Nick’s Market – photo: Martin Booth
The market hosts 63 traders, directly providing more than 130 jobs. A further 50 traders set up at regular outdoor markets on Corn Street and Wine Street.
The plans to increase the fees will be discussed by councillors on the economy and skills policy committee on December 9.
The committee report set out the details of the proposed changes, with a number of options on the table, including putting on more night markets.
The report said: “The Glass Arcade has the lowest fees but this is the most lucrative element of the market, with 75 per cent of the 3.7m visits in 2023.
“It is not reasonable for the most profitable element of the market to be charged the least.
“There is scope to invest in the market to provide better infrastructure for the current traders, through operational improvements and more effective emergency repairs.
“It may also be possible to put on events and night markets. However, this will require additional investment which is not justifiable when income targets are not being achieved.
“It appears that the current low fees are resulting in a low turnover of businesses within the market.
“Ensuring there are regular opportunities for new traders to take up, create and grow new market businesses is important to ensure a mixed and changing offer, encouraging customers to return again and again.”
Exchange Hall is the historic heart of St Nick’s Market – photo: Martin Booth
St Nick’s has a waiting list of 40 traders, including 21 for food stalls and 13 for retail. About half the current traders there have been at the market for over a decade, with some for more than two decades.
In the Exchange Hall, the average weekly fee for a business is £177.16; while in the Covered Market it’s £158.61; and in the Glass Arcade £123.93.
The Exchange Hall is mostly retail, the Glass Arcade is food and drink, and the Covered Market is services and retail plus three new food units since September.
In 2024, the council plans to spend £591,000 on the market. This includes £436,000 on staff, £122,000 on maintenance, £17,000 on marketing and printing, and £4,000 on security and radios.
Over the last five years, £770,000 was invested in things like upgrading CCTV and wifi.
In total, the council expects to make £646,000 in income this year from market traders. But this is much less than the income target of £746,000, which will likely rise to £761,000 in 2025.
Many council departments set an income target, partly due to the long-term effects of austerity.
The covered market area has services including key cutting and a shop selling bongs – photo: Martin Booth
Options for the fee hike include a flat percentage increase to all fees, and applying a fee based on the turnover of food and drink traders.
This could mean food traders paying the council 15 per cent of their turnover, with a similar plan recently sparking outrage among traders in the city’s parks.
The council will consult traders for six weeks about the proposals, before making any final decisions.
St Nick’s Market hosts 63 traders, directly providing more than 130 jobs – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
