A thriving and vibrant market set up to rejuvenate the high street, provide jobs, and benefit the Levenshulme community by providing good quality produce, has won a place in the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards 2019. Levenshulme Market will contend against two other shortlist nominees for the accolade of winning the Best Shop or Market award.
The mission statement of the BBC Food and Farming Awards is “to honour those who have done most to promote the cause of good food”, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Bristol on 12 June 2019.
Established in 2013 as a Community Interest Company, Levenshulme Market operates every weekend from March to December, on the car parks behind Levenshulme train station. A special pop-up lunchtime food market also runs every Tuesday during term-time at The University of Manchester.
One of the biggest foodie events in the market’s calendar is its popular monthly night markets, which feature a host of Manchester’s best street food stalls, speciality bars, DJ entertainment and a party atmosphere.
Market manager and Levenshulme resident Christine Felton says:
“We’re so, so thrilled to have made it to the final three, and we love that all finalists in this category are from the North West and have a community or social focus. Street food and produce has always been a huge part of what we do, bringing the community together each weekend over great food! And we’re proud to have so many exceptional chefs, makers and producers on our stalls each week.”
More awards announcements! 🏆🍞🚨 Our 2019 #bbcfoodawards Best Shop or Market finalists are:
🥔@squashliverpool
🥕@GoodThingVeg
🛒 @levymarketJudging this category are @LeyLaLaa and @MarkDiacono . More announcements to come tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/dFVIkyJNFT
— The Food Programme (@BBCFoodProg) March 27, 2019
The next stage of the competition involves the food award judges Leyla Kazim, food and travel photographer and writer, and Mark Diacono, food writer, grower and photographer. The judges will visit the market to meet the stallholders, which range from globally-influenced street food to fresh produce including organic vegetables, cheese, eggs and meat. The market also boasts traders selling handmade cake, sweets and desserts, preserves, small batch spirits, olive oils.
If the judges fancy a tipple to aid their deliberations there’s even a full bar serving up craft beer, ale, wine and cocktails at every weekend market. After visits to all finalists in the awards 11 categories have been made, the full judging panel will meet to decide the winners.

The Levenshulme community-run market, is facing stiff competition in the Best Shop or Market category. It’s the only market, but is nominated alongside arts and health initiative Squash Liverpool and Bolton community green grocer A Small Good Thing. All three are flying the flag for good food in the North West
The bustling crowds seen at Levenshulme Market indicate it is achieving it’s aims of rejuvenating the high street and benefitting the local community. Supporting that view a 2018 Social Value Report found that 80% of customers value the market’s social atmosphere and that staff and traders generate just under £80k of income each year. Felton believes the market owes it growing success to its customers, saying:
“We’d also like to say a huge thank you to our customers, as it was their nominations that got us to this point. We’ve had so much community support, so whatever happens we’re absolutely delighted.”
Conrad Bower
Levenshulme Market website
Levenshulme Market Facebook Page
Featured image: Levenshulme Market
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