Last week of trade for current Rochdale Market

The new market building

Saturday 4 August marks the last day the current Rochdale Market will trade.

The stallholders are understood to have been served the notices on 28 July, giving just one week’s notice to the existing traders, who have still not been informed if they will be part of the new specialist market in the former Santander Bank.

After close to four decades in the Exchange Shopping Centre, Rochdale Market was forced to move to the former 'Black Box' site in January 2015 – itself a temporary measure – where traders operated for two and a half years without basic facilities. Work on opening the river at the time prevented the move of the market to the preferred location of The Butts.

It is not known how many of the existing traders will make the move into the new premises.

The new market, the long-awaited Riverbank Food Hall, run by Essex-based specialists Quarterbridge, will consist of indoor stalls and a café.

It is expected to open in time for the Feel Good Festival on August 18.

John Searle, director of economy at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The temporary market will cease trading on 4 August to allow the market operators Quarterbridge to get the brand-new market ready for its expected opening on 18 August.

“All current market traders have been offered the opportunity to apply for a stall on the new market.”