Frequently asked questions
- What days do the markets trade?
- What products am I allowed to sell on the market?
- I have a fast food trailer – can I trade at the market?
- I would like to have a stall at Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill Provisions Market – how do I go about this?
- Do the council provide the stalls at the market?
- How much does it cost to have a stall at the market?
- Can I have my vehicle next to my stall?
- Does the council provide insurance for traders?
- Do I need a license to trade?
- What if it rains all day – could I pack up early and go home?
- How do I get a permanent pitch at the market?
- I represent a charity – can we have a stall at the market?
- I have a complaint about something I bought at one of the market stalls
- I would like the contact details of one of the traders
- I want to hand out flyers/promotional literature on the market – do I need approval for this?
- I am interested in trading at the Christmas Fayre
- I need vehicle access to the market area on a market day to unload a delivery to a shop – can this be arranged?
- What council officers oversee the markets?
1. What days do the markets trade?
Haverhill – Friday and Saturday.
Bury St Edmunds – Wednesday and Saturday.
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2. What products am I allowed to sell on the market?
All products must be approved by the Market Superintendent – if the market already has a full compliment of a particular range then you may have to wait until an available pitch becomes vacant.
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3. I have a fast food trailer – can I trade at the market?
We currently have a full complement of food outlets on the market – you can register your interest with the Market Superintendent should a pitch become vacant in the future
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4. I would like to have a stall at Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill Provisions Market – how do I go about this?
The council operates two tiers of stallholders – casual traders and permanent traders. All traders start out on a casual basis. A trader must first get approval from the Markets Superintendent for the product range they wish to sell (contact numbers below). They then present themselves to the Market Superintendent on Market Day. If there are any available spaces on the market after the permanent traders have occupied their pitches, then the Superintendent will then allocate these spaces to the casual traders who have arrived that day. The casual trader must have Public Liability Insurance and a valid certificate which can be viewed by the Market Superintendent.
Casual trader status allows both the trader and the market officers to build up a relationship which can eventually lead to permanent trader status. The casual trader is allocated any space that is available. We cannot guarantee a particular pitch and there is also a slim chance that no pitches are available, in which case, the casual trader cannot trade that day. Permanent traders are casual traders that have been offered a permanent pitch; they are licensed by the council and have guaranteed pitches.
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5. Do the council provide the stalls at the market?
No - the trader must supply their own stall. The stall must be in good, safe, clean condition. New and second hand stalls are available through publications such as Ad Trader and Exchange and Mart.
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6. How much does it cost to have a stall at the market?
This varies according to trader status and size of stall and location – the Market Superintendent can give this information based on these conditions.
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7. Can I have my vehicle next to my stall?
This is dependent on the pitch you are trading from. We try to limit vehicles on the market unless they are integral to the stall and you would be charged for this.
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8. Does the council provide insurance for traders?
Insurance cover is not offered by the council – contact any insurance broker for details. Although St Edmundsbury Borough Council does not endorse any particular organisation you may wish to contact the NMTF (National Market Traders Federation) on 01226 749021. They are able to offer comprehensive advice to Market Traders.
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9. Do I need a license to trade?
Not if you are trading on a casual basis but we will license you as a permanent trader.
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10. What if it rains all day – could I pack up early and go home?
No – once trading begins at 9am the stallholder is committed until the end of the market, the trader has from 4pm to 6pm to clear away.
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11. How do I get a permanent pitch at the market?
Once you have built up a relationship with the Markets team, and you have proved yourself to be reliable and an asset to the market overall, you will be offered any permanent pitches that may become vacant from time to time.
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12. I represent a charity – can we have a stall at the market?
We offer charity stalls a reduced fee – the Market Superintendent can let you have available dates and talk you through the process.
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13. I have a complaint about something I bought at one of the market stalls.
In the unlikely event of this, in the first instance you should speak to the trader involved. Like any other shopkeeper the trader will be very willing to deal with any problems with products sold from their stall.
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14. I would like the contact details of one of the traders.
We are not able to pass on details such as this due to Data Protection legislation.
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15. I want to hand out flyers/promotional literature on the market – do I need approval for this?
Market Byelaws forbid the distribution of any promotional literature from the market area and this rule is enforced by the Market Officers.
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16. I am interested in trading at the Christmas Fayre.
The Christmas Fayre is separate from the Provisions Market – for Christmas Fayre enquiries please contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01284 757093 or email tic@stedsbc.gov.uk
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17. I need vehicle access to the market area on a market day to unload a delivery to a shop – can this be arranged?
A Traffic Order exists which prevents any vehicular access to the markets area during trading – there are no exceptions except for emergency vehicles.
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18. What council officers oversee the markets?
Haverhill – Market Superintendent and Markets Officer: 01440 705165, Friday and Saturday 10am-10.30am
Bury St Edmunds – Market Superintendent, Assistant Market Superintendent and Market Officer: 01284 757415, Monday to Saturday 9am-4.30pm.
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