Current Southam market operators to stop running market after it becomes 'unviable'

The current operators of Southam's market have announced that it will no longer be running the market.

Market operators CJ’s Events Warwickshire have taken the decision to withdraw from the management of the weekly market.

Since lockdown was enforced back in March by Central Government, Southam market has been cancelled and has not yet returned due to social distancing concerns.

However, the operators have now confirmed the market will not be returning under their management.

CJ’s Events Warwickshire took over the market in January 2017, when the previous market operator Sketts pulled out due to it being unviable at the end of 2016.

The market was moved from Wood Street Car Park onto Market Hill to make it more visible for passing trade.

Today it has been confirmed the second operator has also found this market unviable to operate.

Carol Young, of CJ’s Events Warwickshire, said: "We are hugely disappointed we’ve had to make this decision to withdraw from the management of this market with immediate effect.

"When we took over in 2017 we had an increase in traders, but this has declined.

"This market has been unviable for around 12 months.

"With this being a small, midweek market, it’s difficult to get new and fresh traders to attend, despite our huge list of traders, in addition to small budgets to work with in regards to promotion.

"We never want to withdraw from markets, but if they prove to be unviable, we need to take actions to ensure the rest of our business isn’t impacted.

"We simply cannot run markets which just breakeven or cost us to operate. Coronavirus hasn’t helped the decision and plays a large part of this.

"We know this will be a shock and disappointment for everyone, but we hope they can understand the reasons.

"Southam Town Council are aware of our decisions. We’d like to thank everyone who’s supported this market since 2017.

"We hold other successful markets locally in Warwick District which are well attended with traders and visitors and we look forward to developing these over the coming weeks and months, as we get back to some form of normality."