Market in Sunderland station will soon be 'bustling', say local traders
A weekly market has been a big hit with customers at Sunderland station and traders are confident it will be “bustling” in the coming months.
The Mackem Market is held inside the station on Fridays, with local traders selling everything from homemade cakes and cards to toys and jewellery from pop-up stalls.
It comes after a multi-million pound redevelopment of the station, which provided a new waiting area, retail space, public toilets and ticket office inside a glass-fronted entrance that looks out onto Market Square in the city centre.
Completed in December 2023, the project was delivered by Sunderland City Council, with support from Network Rail, Nexus, Grand Central and Northern.
Gemma Niles, an event planner who launched the market last year, said: “It’s a lovely spot. It’s clean, there’s plenty of space and it’s in the town centre, with a lot of through traffic.
“We love the locals here. We always see the same people, which is nice because you can have a bit of craic. They’re also happy to spend money here.
“It’s always a bit quiet after Christmas, but it’s starting to pick up and get busy. It’ll be full soon, with 30 traders, and we'll get buskers in to play live music.”
Dorothy McQuillan runs Cute Cards, selling homemade cards from a stall at the market. She said: “People say the station is an empty shell, but I love it here.
“The customers are fantastic and I have a lot of the same people coming every week, buying cards months in advance. I look forward to coming here every Friday.”
Ellisha Hastings, who runs Gluten Free Delights, said: “It's a canny place. There's something for everyone. I do really well here and nine times out of 10, I sell out.”
Jill Donnison, who sells costume costume jewellery from her stall, said: “I love doing it. It's been a bit quiet in January, but we’re going to persevere. I think it will be bustling in the summer.
“The markets really work around here because there are quality products people can get for a bargain.”
Fatemeh Hosseini, who sells baked goods inspired by cuisine from her native Iran, said: “It was hard at the start, as the Friday market was really quiet. But it's picking up, as more people hear about it.
“I really like coming here. There's a good mix of people and the traders are lovely.”
Since the redevelopment, some locals have raised concerns about the station, asking what is being done to fill the vacant retail units and tackle anti-social behaviour.
Caribe Coffee set up a kiosk inside the station last year and a number of businesses have shown interest in leasing the three retail units.
The largest one is under offer and a tenant is due to begin a fit out in the coming weeks.
Northern is working with Northumbria Police, British Transport Police and Sunderland City Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, and the operator recently brought in additional security.
Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City council: “We’re pleased to see the market's playing a part in animating the entrance to the train station.
"Northern Trains is responsible for the dressing and activation of the space, so it’s encouraging to see them bring forward this event, and we know that they are looking at what else can be done to create a warm welcome to Sunderland, and the type of entrance to the city that residents want and deserve.”
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.