Skip to content or view screen version

Common Market? French and Italian Variety in The New Market Square

Paula Sharratt | 01.11.2007 12:46 | Culture | Sheffield

Regular open air markets can invigorate and stimulate imagination and creativity in research which gives people the confidence to create new businesses…

Honey Honey Honey Must be Runny....
Honey Honey Honey Must be Runny....

Beautiful Brioche
Beautiful Brioche

Donald (Brit) With Turkish Crystal
Donald (Brit) With Turkish Crystal

Francesco's Fine Italian Wine
Francesco's Fine Italian Wine

Luc and Julie The Lovers
Luc and Julie The Lovers

Some of Sophie's Cheeses
Some of Sophie's Cheeses

Handmade Marseilles Soap
Handmade Marseilles Soap

La famille Musos
La famille Musos

Happy Alain from Normandy
Happy Alain from Normandy

Any Four Cheese for £5
Any Four Cheese for £5

Pashminae (!)
Pashminae (!)

Carrie's Sweets
Carrie's Sweets

Olives Matured in Chilli Oil
Olives Matured in Chilli Oil

Agnes Having The Patience To Spot a Discerning Customer
Agnes Having The Patience To Spot a Discerning Customer

Sponges and Pumices
Sponges and Pumices

Spicy Napoli and Hardworking Hands
Spicy Napoli and Hardworking Hands

Watches On A Sundial
Watches On A Sundial

Emmanuel at Carrie's Charcuterie Stall
Emmanuel at Carrie's Charcuterie Stall

Luc's Handbags
Luc's Handbags


The Common Market in the Market Square Thursday 25th October to Sunday 28th…

Coming from Normandy, and London’s proud Italian victuallers, the UK ‘market run’ means travelling to weekend markets in places like Nottingham, Walthamstow, Chingford, Norwich, Bexley, 37 weekends a year.

Luc Girardeau, from the Vendee, organises the market, each stall is called a ‘metal’. Luc says there were 200 ‘metals’ at Nottingham. His dream is to bring 600 to the Market Square for next year’s market Russian, Polish, Senegalese, Turkish: a real common market!

What makes a really good market?

‘A great open space’ (Luc, Vendee, selling ponchos and coats for under £35).

‘Plenty of publicity, good metals that withstand English weather’. (Carrie, Paris, biscuits and pastries).

‘It must be having a real variety of great foods and drink, a combination of food you can try and take away and foods you can savour at home’ (Francesco, Italy, now London, Italian wine and more than thirty varieties of olives).

‘Give people a taste of quality and variety and they’ll return again and again’ (Sophie, Normandy, selling over forty varieties of cheese).

‘Show people import/export links, let them see funny, interesting things from all over the world, it makes them want to travel’ (Julia, Yandeh and Konateth, selling carved figures, jewellery, originally from Senegal, now in Normandy).

Regular open air markets can invigorate and stimulate imagination and creativity in research which gives people the confidence to create new businesses…

Irish Chocolate, Crystals from Turkey, Ponchos, Coats, Pashminas, Honey, Handmade Soaps, Brooches, Pates, Sausages, Hams, Cheeses: Gouda Raclette Fume, Rocquefort, Camembert, La Bienheureux, Saint Nectaire, Emmental, Mimolette, Beaufort, Saint Marcellin, Goat Crottin, half bresse bleu, Eposse, Neuf Chattel, buchette, Saint Marcellin, Munster, Moulle, Briecle, Meaux, Port Salut, Mosbier, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses, belts, bags, pastries: baklava, breads, paella, pasta, fine wines, animal figures, olives, jewellery….and more….


Paula Sharratt
- e-mail: poly.sharratt@btinternet.com