Not all those who wander are lost
Date published 20 February, 2019
A Fix in the High Street
I don't only mean the High Street, of course, although untypically for the North East Durham does actually have a street called the High Street. In this instance I mean the Market Square.
The Market Square sits in the centre of Durham. It is a decent open space surrounded by some great buildings. In one of those buildings is an indoor market which is well worth a browse.
It is not that covered market that I am writing about, however.
Recently, I took a stroll into Durham on a Friday evening to eat out - Durham has some good places for doing just that. As I walked through the city I stumbled across the Full Moon Market in full swing.
I happens once a month - not always, of course, when there is a full moon. It consisted of a very respected range of street food sellers, a coffee stand, and there was live music. But mostly, it there were people. People spending actual money. And it was vibrant. People were enjoying themselves. This is the kind of thing you would go into the city specifically to enjoy, which is exactly what High Streets need to achieve. And, of course, the added bonus is that parking in the city is free after 7pm.
A couple of the stalls had significant queues. People go back again to enjoy this event. Repeat visits, money changing hands, people having fun, the local economy benefiting. All ticks in the success box.
Full marks, I think, for innovation. Without innovation, city centres are just going to be rows of Starbucks, Costa and Brighthouse stores. No one wants that.
If you are near Durham, check out the Full Moon Market for something a bit different.
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