What a way to start! Our very first Malton Artisan Market on Saturday was a huge success, and we couldn’t have asked for a better launch.

For February, the footfall was incredibly strong. The town felt vibrant all day, with a steady stream of visitors exploring the stalls, chatting with traders, and really taking their time to enjoy everything on offer. The feedback from both customers and traders was overwhelmingly positive — and the customers were just so lovely. So many stopped to say how pleased they were to see the market in Malton, which means the world to us.

One of the highlights of the day was chatting with Gwendolyn, who owns the antiques shop nearby. It happened to be her 79th birthday, so I popped back later with a little plant — it felt only right to celebrate such a special day! Moments like that are what markets are all about: community, connection, and kindness.

It was also fantastic to spend time speaking with the team at the greengrocers and to experience such warm support from the Fitzwilliam Estate, who were incredibly helpful throughout. A huge thank you as well to Visit Malton for their promotion of the event — their support truly helped spread the word and bring people into town.

Launching a new market is always a leap of faith, but Saturday confirmed exactly why we do what we do. Seeing traders busy, customers smiling, and the town buzzing made all the hard work worthwhile.

We’re so excited to watch the Malton Artisan Market grow from here — this is just the beginning.

Jackie