Why don't we have decent markets in the UK?

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I'm in Brussels, and walked through the most amazing market near the station.
Fruit, vegetables, breads, fabric, clothing, hardware. Anything you could possibly want.
I live in Bristol, and there's certainly nothing like it here.
Are there decent markets in the UK, or do we prefer getting stuff from supermarkets?

I used to love going to markets back in the 80s and 90s, when I was in my late teens and 20s. But I agree that there's no decent markets around any more. I live in West London and I used to go to Wembley market about once a month,on Sundays. But it gradually started going downhill in the late 90s so I stopped bothering to go.

We have a weekly one here but it's artisan (£££ price).

Luckily there are a couple of international shops which leave heaps of fruit and vegetables outside for a very reasonable price, also stock lots of beauty stuff, spices etc indoors

Councils just don't like them! They can make more money from selling the land they're on!

Our council, can't sell any land because our market square is a public thoroughfare. 1,000 year old rights of way, so instead, they have more markets not fewer.

We have Christmas markets, Easter Markets, Harvest Festival markets. It's really good. 😊

Many markets have charters stipulating what days and times they can open

It's hard to coordinate the opening days of the market with working hours (often closing at 4pm) and some traders travel between markets to open up when another market is open when one is shut

The merch has to be boxed up and transported, has to be light enough to put in the back of vans or hatchbacks and easily set up

Because I don't want six bagged onions. I want one.
Because I want to have a good look at the strawberries and tomatoes before I buy and not get barked at if I'm in the way of the queue. A bit of customer service wouldn't hurt either.

Our sainsburys has lovely, welcoming staff, I can choose which products I want and don't have to buy large quantities of fruit or veg that might go off.

The UK used to have good markets. Now markets seem full of cheap crap that sellers think we’re interested in. No thanks pal.

Thanks for all the wise replies.
Tbh, I'm really off supermarkets, especially our local Sainsbury's. Hardly any staff these days.
And so much plastic waste.

I used to really love Christmas markets, was a highlight of the season for years and it honestly took a lot for me to give up on them. Too much repeating plastic tat and overpriced food now, I'd rather stick with my memories.

Agree with PP, now more families have two working parents it's not as practical to shop that way.

My town has two amazing ones every week and a mini one on Sunday’s. Makes the town a fortune with people coming in to them.

There are lovely local 'makers markets' near me every month or so quite small scale and expensive, but lovely things food craft etc.

Love going there on a Sunday

Bury market has all the food stalls you could need plus everything else

In continental Europe going to the market is part of every day life. Lots of people live within walking distance and go there for their meat, fish, fruit. They shop at supermarkets for other foods, cleaning supplies… here people do not live in town centres so would have to drive to the market, making them much less convenient (and charming).

In general, with Amazon and Ocado and online fashion, people are physically high street shopping less often, so it’s not a huge surprise if markets suffer too.

Leeds market is great but I could only shop there on a Saturday due to the opening hours in the week. I work 9-5 and lunch break would be too short to get there and back, and have no- where to store what I’d buy like fish or meat.

LOL! She'll go far!

When I lived in Norwich I'd go to the market at least a couple of times a week There was loads of stuff there. None of it tat. I'd get my nails done, my eyebrows threaded, get some lovely bread ( a bit pricey) get all my ethnic stuff, spices etc. The food stalls were amazing. Its open every day. It is too expensive to do the family shop there though. Even the fruit and veg is expensive compared to the supermarket.

Also, before supermarkets, many towns were too small to support specialised shops. So the market traders would have a 'circuit' of market towns, one day a week.

Warwickshire is pretty good for markets. Warwick itself has one every Saturday, Kenilworth is Wednesday or Thursday (haven't been for a while) and Stratford upon Avon is Fridays and Saturdays. IIRC Kenilworth is food only, Warwick and Stratford a mix of food and 'other' - crafts, clothing, local artists, vinyl LPs. They're going to trial a new one in Leamington Spa soon, I have hopes it'll be a success and become permanent.

Coventry has a permanent indoor market, the 'round' market. Used to get all my fruit & veg from there on a Friday after work, and treat myself at the florist's stall.

Further afield:

Norwich - I love their market! Such a mix, permanent stalls and huge variety.

Hay on Wye - was there one summer and loved theirs. Bought some fantastic pastries and a lovely plant, I suspect if you live in Hay you could get a fair bit of your food shopping there.

There are loads of markets worth going to.

I love a market but I work 9-5 mon-friday and don't drive. I've had my groceries delivered for 15 years so going to a market is a treat for fancy cheese or Salford Rum. We have an 'artisan' market once a month that I sometimes manage to get to but I just do not know how anyone who is working full time would have the time to shop at a traditional market.

BTW have you been to the indoor market in Bath? its got an amazing second hand bookshop!

We have good markets near us but they’re not cheap. They charge an amount that enables the farmer to make a reasonable living.

The problem in the UK is that housing is so expensive that people can’t afford to pay a fair price for food, so they eat supermarket shite instead. We have forgotten what a fair price for food is.

Brixton market (s) are good - and East Street in Walworth. Walthamstow is supposed to be good but I’ve not been yet

Another one who loves Bury market and coaches go from all over Northern England to get there on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Also go to Leeds Market once a month.
Barnsley are spending millions transforming the market and central areas of town.
As soon as our local coach companies advertise these markets they are filled almost immediately so are still popular.
Macclesfield Treacle market on the last Sunday of the month is nice for a day out.
I lived in Spain for years and there was a market every day of the week in local towns and Malaga indoor market was amazing - wish they were like that here.

York's market is pretty good. There's good flowers, fruit and veg, meat, fish, a cheesemonger, street food stalls, pin badges, hats, plenty of tat, and a good bakery that's basically in the market area even though I don't think it's technically party of the market. I think it's as good as an average french market.

So did I. Also Barnsley market.

Tynemouth market is brilliant but more for eclectic stuff rather thn grocery shopping.

The added cost of compulsory third party insurance, having to provide suitable lighting in the winter months, petty crime and theft, unpredictable weather have all contributed to the decline as many market traders have found their profits tumble.