Town’s indoor market to fully reopen on 16 June 2020

Harborough Market Food Hall has remained open throughout the lockdown period, solely for people to purchase essential food and cleaning supplies, but from Monday 15 June, all non-essential retailers will be allowed to trade, which will mean the return of General Hall  market traders who had no option but to close at the start of the lockdown.

Shoppers at the market will still be expected to follow social distancing guidelines and the control measures currently in operation in the Food Hall will be extended into the General Hall. These include a one-way system with controlled admittance via the St Mary’s Place entrance only; the Northampton Road entrance to the market will be closed, with signage in place. There will also be hand sanitiser stations on entry, clear 2m floor markings and a reduced stall layout.

Opening hours have been adjusted to 8am to 3pm for the Food Hall and 9am to 3pm for the General Hall, to allow for the staggered arrival of traders.

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “It’s fantastic that we can see this phased return to normality, and while not every trader is in a position to return immediately, we will have a great range of general goods traders returning alongside our Food Hall traders from 16 June. The Covid-19 guidelines may mean that queues move a bit more slowly and shoppers will not be able to pick up and handle items on stalls, but we ask that the public are patient and understanding.”

While the Harborough Market public toilets will remain closed and the Sunday Antiques Markets will not resume immediately, it is hoped that the monthly Farmers Market on the Square may return in July or August.

Alongside the reopening of the market, shops and businesses are set to reopen in town centres in Harborough district from 15 June 2020 with ‘helpers’ on hand to promote social distancing and safe shopping.