Market Could See New Al Fresco Dining

Monday, 16 October 2023 at 08:30

Significant improvements are coming to the Central Market to make it more attractive to islanders and visitors alike.

Over the coming years, the government wants to invest around £8 million into both of Jersey markets.

By 2028, the Central Market will see upgrades, such as al fresco dining, to increase footfall and interest.

The aim is to create a better shopping experience.

Alongside the regeneration of the market, the traditional Thursday afternoon closure could be scrapped to make opening hours more regular.

Infrastructure Minister Deputy Tom Binet says it is a beautiful space with great displays, but it could be better:

"The floor is in a mess, and the upper part of the building isn't really suitably lit to make the best of it.

What we really want to do is regenerate the Central Markets and make it the centrepiece of much bigger public realm work."

Money will be invested into improving the town centre, through to Ann Court, and the end of Parade Gardens.

The new government headquarters at the end of the Parade is set to be completed by Autumn 2024.

"We [want to] make a town to be proud of and a town that visitors actually speak well of when they go home, which will hopefully help to help out the economy, help our businesses.

It'll be good for the people that are actually living in St Helier, those who are coming to live in St Helier and the people who do business here.

I think there are a huge amount of pluses in investing in our town centre."

The markets now have new website (jerseymarkets.je) and social media channels (@JerseyMarketsOfficial), a new traders' representative group and fresh branding.