Leek’s Butter and Trestle Markets win national award for Best Small Indoor Market

Just over a year since their re-development, Leek’s Butter and Trestle Markets have achieved national recognition by being voted the Best Small Indoor Market in the Great British Market Awards 2026 organised by NABMA, the National Association of British Market Authorities.

The annual awards, where peers in the industry are invited to vote for their favourite market across 11 categories, celebrate excellence, innovation and commitment across the UK markets sector.

The judges noted how in Leek an investment led by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, which contributed £3.4 million of the funding to develop the markets, “…has transformed this historic market into a dynamic incubator for local enterprise, cultural activity and town centre footfall. Strong communication and collaboration between traders, officers and regeneration teams were central to its success.”

The markets were opened in December 2024 and had an official opening in March last year attended by local celebrity Kelvin Fletcher of ITV’s Fletcher’s Family Farm and Emmerdale fame.

They attracted a footfall of around 385,000 people during the first year of operation, with almost 80% of customers rating their experience and time at the market as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, Cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism, said: “We couldn’t be happier achieving such a vote of confidence and a national award so soon after re-opening this much-loved Victorian building and giving it a new lease of life.

“We are especially pleased to have created a winning mix of independent shops that compliment one another, food outlets we know people come from afar to sample, supported by a cultural and artistic programme that enhances our strong retail and food offer.

“The refurbishment has allowed us to use the markets for a whole range of community events including films, music, the recent `Day of the Dead` spectacle and to mark Pride in the district.”

The markets project was funded by the UK Government. It is one of three regeneration schemes in the town costing around £17 million in total, with the others being the creation of a new swimming pool and health and wellbeing centre at Brough Park Leisure Centre run by MyActive, and the refurbishment of the Nicholson Institute.