The award-winning market attracts around 30 local businesses each month
Londonderry merchants said they were disappointed that a council-backed market had to be scrapped due to “unprecedented financial challenges”.
The walled city market attracts around 30 traders on the first Saturday of every month.
But the local council said it could no longer run the deal due to budget pressures.
Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) said the last market will take place on April 1.
Kerona Hasson said the market is a great outlet for traders like her
Ms. Hasson makes specialty organic dog treats. Her business is not online, nor does she have a physical outlet.
The market, she says, “is a great outlet” for her business.
“It’s the second largest city in Northern Ireland, having a local market is very important. It’s hugely disappointing for all traders, we’re hugely annoyed.”
A DCSDC spokeswoman said the local authority was facing “unprecedented financial challenges”.
She has, she added, taken “the decision to implement several budget savings and efficiencies across a number of services, including the withdrawal of the Market Development Program for 2023-2024 from April 2023”.
“Huge Shock”
The market has become a popular platform for food producers and craft businesses to showcase their wares.
In 2022 it was named Local Attraction of the Year for Northern Ireland in the Travel and Hospitality European Travel Awards.
North West Food Network President Emily McCorkell said her loss had been a “huge shock”.
“The thing about the market, especially given where we are in terms of food innovation, with the infrastructure and the creativity that we have in the city, is that it’s a huge hub. It’s a safe space for entrepreneurship, for people to start a business, try it, test it,” she said.
Traders will now explore options that could see the market continue, she added.
The DCSDC said it was working with traders to “review options for potential trading opportunities in the market at key council events in the future”.
“The Council is also engaging with traders to offer them support and business advice through its Business Support Team,” the Council spokeswoman added.