Revamped indoor market dubbed 'best in the world'
BBCAn indoor market has been dubbed "the best in the world" by the local council leader following a multi-million pound renovation.
Newcastle's Grainger Market closed in September last year so it could undergo a £9m revamp, including the installation of two new pavilions and new entrance ways.
But the most dramatic change has been a redesign of the market arcade which has increased the amount of open space available for cultural events.
The 190-year-old site has now reopened and Newcastle City Council leader Karen Kilgour said she believed it could retain its traditional qualities while also becoming a modern day attraction.
"Newcastle is the best city in the world and we have the best market in the world," she said.
"It was voted Britain's favourite market in 2020 and that was before we have made all of these amazing upgrades.
"I see no reason why it cannot be a huge attraction to the city."
The market has had new flooring, toilets, seats, signage and doors and its renovated entrances have been designed to improve visibility and reduce draughts.
Alongside traditional stalls such as grocers, butchers and fishmongers, the new open space could allow it to stage concerts, plays and fashion shows, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The project was funded by £8.2m from the government's Levelling Up Fund and £800,000 from the council.
The market was originally expected to open last year but the complexities of the work within the Grade I-listed building saw it delayed.
The wait led to some traders raising concerns about how the delay would impact their businesses.
But Labour's Kilgour said the changes to the market would improve experiences for both customers and traders.
"We have made it, hopefully, a better place to work just through things like putting the doors on so that it is not freezing cold in the winter," she said.
"So, there are things they will see as enhancing their working day, as well as encouraging more people to come in and use the market."
