A weekend walk around Oxford markets

Following a £440m revamp, it reopened in 2017 and with its big name brands and rooftop terrace restaurants is a major attraction.

But not every trip to the city centre has to involve a visit to Westgate.

There are lots of independent traders doing business who need support, especially after the difficulties they have faced during the coronavirus pandemic.

Repeated lockdowns hit trade but now restrictions have been lifted footfall for some businesses is starting to pick up.

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I always enjoy a stroll around the Westgate Centre but on Saturday I decided to avoid it and check out several locations where I knew there would be lots of independent traders.

My first stop was Gloucester Green market off George Street.

Run by LSD Promotions on behalf of the city council, the market takes place in the square four days a week, from Wednesday to Saturday.

Street food stalls attract lots of visitors and there are also traders selling vintage clothing, antiques, bric-a-brac and second-hand vinyl.

Alessandro Morelli, from Abingdon, has been serving Italian street food from his stall called Polentista for the past three years.

He said: “I think trade is picking up and slowly we are getting back to where we were.

“I was at a festival in Reading the other week and it was very busy there.

“I’m hoping we will see the difference here when the university students come back.”

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Gloucester Green also features its own shops and restaurants, including games cafe Thirsty Meeples and Bbuona pizzeria.

A short distance away from the market is Walton Street, which offers a number of independent shops, including Riverman Records.

There are also delicatessens and restaurants near the Phoenix Picturehouse in Walton Street, and Little Clarendon Street is well worth a visit for its independent traders.

A visit to the city centre would not be complete without a trip to the Covered Market, so I retraced my steps along Walton Street and walked along some of the city’s side streets, including  St Ebbe’s Street, Ship Street, St Michael’s Street, New Inn Hall Street and Turl Street, before arriving at the market, where the aisles were packed with shoppers.

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The market off High Street, which is owned by Oxford City Council, dates back to the 1770s and is a showcase for crafts, food and drink.

I always try to leave the market with some locally produced food to take home.

Often it’s fruit and veg from Bonner’s, which has been running a delivery service throughout the pandemic - but on this occasion it was a box of Ben’s Cookies.