About Us
The Westgate Hall in Canterbury started off as the Drill Hall and for the last 100 years has been a used as a Community Hall for everyone in Canterbury to use and enjoy. In October 2009 the Hall became the focal point of extended public controversy as the Council released plans to demolish it to make way for further parking spaces. A group of residents got together to create a Trust and after much public support and funding the Hall evolved into a wonderful Community Centre with up-to-date facilities and re-opened in November 2014. Since then the Westgate Community Trust (Canterbury) Ltd have been hard at work developing various initiatives to ensure that the Hall is a welcoming space that can be used by our community for various events. We are delighted to be able to host the new Canterbury Farmers & Makers Market here from April 2016.
Aims and objectives
The Westgate Hall is the perfect venue, minutes away from Canterbury’s bustling high street for a new Farmers and Makers Market in Canterbury, where we will be bringing a taste of the countryside right into the heart of the City.
Sometimes Farmers Markets get bad press; they can be seen as elitist and expensive. We don’t believe that is the case and want the Canterbury Farmers & Makers Market to be a destination for all to come and enjoy. You will be able to buy wonderful fresh, seasonal local produce from farms and market gardens within a 35 mile radius of Canterbury. There will be a focus on sustainable and organic produce, delicious food and drink as well as offering a select range of art and artisan crafts.
Come and chat to the business owners, they’ll tell you where they grow everything, how they make their delicious cheeses, breads, chutneys, jams. Taste the beers, ciders and apple juices before you buy. Many of our stall holders offer award-winning produce. What’s not to like?!
Not only will you walk away with a basket full of goodies for the table and larder you will also be confident that the money you have spent will go directly to the stall holder, a local, independent small, family-owned and run business. No middle man, no chains. We hope that more people will make visiting the market a regular part of their shop as visiting a farmers market really gives you the sort of shopping experience that you just don’t get in Supermarkets.
So, grab a large shopping bag, some cash, friends and family and come and make a morning of it!
When will the market be on?
The market launched on Sunday April the 3rd and continue every first Sunday and third Saturday of the month (except for May when we will be running the markets on Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd and then again on Sunday May 22nd).
List of Stall Holders
We have plenty of wonderful stalls throughout the year, and the following have confirmed they will be attending our launch market including the following Produced in Kent members.
Cheesemakers of Canterbury
Enzo’s Bakery
Gaia Creations
Independent Trotters
Little Stour Orchard
Madame Oiseau
Mulberry Glass Art
Nethergong Nurseries
Samovar Foods
The Chai Shop
Zinzies Cakes
In addition, we will be running our Market Café, a Kids Corner as well as a Community Corner. We’ll also be bringing along a very cute little grey fergie tractor popular with both children and adults.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 16th of April, Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May, Sunday 22nd of May and then every 1st Sunday and 3rd Saturday of the month. Follow our page and make sure you get a reminder of the dates a couple of days in advance.
See you there!
