Darley Street Market opening date pushed back into 2024

Darley Street Market will follow Bradford Live in work now being fully complete in 2024.

Bradford Council says construction of the new market will be finished towards the end of this year, then the fit out will be completed.

Traders will now have to wait until Spring 2024 to set up their stalls instead of the previous Autumn 2023 date.

Inside the new Darley Street Market (Image: Simon Sugden)

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration Planning and Transport, said: “Construction on the new state of the art Darley Street Market is progressing well and is due to be completed towards the end of this year, after which we will proceed to the final fit out stage before the opening. 

“We have enough applications to fill the market and have already shown a number of traders around the site to see where their stalls will be located.

"Opening in Spring 2024 will allow traders to concentrate on their busiest period in the run up to Christmas and the New Year sales, without the disruption of relocation, which is what traders say they prefer.

"Traders will then be able to use the typically quieter trading period at the beginning of the year to focus on this exciting new chapter in trading at the new Darley Street Market.” 

The works on the market from a birds eye view (Image: Simon Sugden)

The general reaction among traders moving across from John Street Market is positive.

Owners are pleased to have one last Christmas in the historic market before making the transition in the new year.

Gunther Giangregorio, of Roswitha’s Deli, feels it is the right decision to kick the move into the new year.

"It takes a little bit of pressure off everybody," he said.

"It would have been nice to be in there in October but there would have been a lot of pressure on moving over.

"It would have been a massive rush. You would have had to order refrigeration products in summer time which is unfeasible.

"Now, we have one last Christmas here. We are all looking forward to 2024.

Owner of Roswitha’s Deli Gunther Giangregorio (Image: Newsquest)

"The city centre has shrunk, so we will be moving closer to where there is more footfall. If we can survive up here, down there will be fantastic.

"It is going to be one of the most modern markets in the country.

"With the City of Culture 2025 and Bradford Live opening, everything is aligning together and it should be good for Bradford."

The top floor of the market (Image: Simon Sugden)

Another trader moving over is long-standing family business Taplins Butchers.

Established in 1916, the butchers has been working out of John Street Market for decades.

Initially, owner Jon Taplin was not a fan of the move but has been won round with the long-term benefits it is set to bring.

Work continues at the site (Image: Simon Sugden)

He said: "We have our regular loyal customers, so it is going to be a massive expense and a huge risk.

"But long-term, I do think it will be for the best as everything else is moving to that part of town.

"First year, it should be fantastic as it will draw in new people. Two and three years after will be the real test.

"I've been hanging on to investing at John Street Market since taking over with Covid and Darley Street on the horizon.

"It will be a good thing for Bradford along with all the other redevelopments."

Taplins Butchers will be making the move across to the new market in 2024 (Image: Newsquest)

Both businesses are experiencing fine starts to 2023.

Roswitha’s Deli, which has been in operation for over 30 years, has never been as busy in the opening months.

"The food shortages in supermarkets has led to more people coming back to the market. We have had a really good start to 2023," Mr Giangregorio said.

"We have never been this busy in January and February in previous years."

There will be three floors (Image: Simon Sugden)

Taplins, which also has a shop in Clayton, have expanded their offering in recent years.

The butchers now supplies multiply Bradford restaurants with their meat.

The likes of Mamma Mia's, Aldo's Italian, Midland Hotel and The Alhambra are all customers.

Mr Taplin added: "When Covid hit the prices went up at cash and carries so owners shopped round more. I then realised I could beat them on prices.

"Businesses have been coming to us, it is word of mouth. 

"People know are name and know we will not just be a flash in the pan. We have good foundations.

"It helps to have a mix of both. The bread and butter stuff and the regular income from orders."

Taplins has been in operation for over a century (Image: Newsquest)

In 1916, William Briers Taplin, who had five sons, opened up the first Taplins Butchers.

Son David Taplin pioneered the business into Bradford markets with his wife Patricia.

Keith Taplin had been helping out in the shops from the age of seven and took on the business when his dad died in 1995.

Keith handed control over to his son Jon in 2017, since then the business has gone from strength to strength.