Teenage market in Carlisle hailed as great success

Despite inclement weather, the city centre was busy with shoppers all looking at the large variety of handmade products on sale.

The stalls, which were all run by local traders aged between 8 and 25, included handmade soaps, organic baking, handmade crafts, vintage football shirts and watermelon door stops.

Oliver Tasker (Image: Isaac Cooper)Organisers of the Carlisle event, which included support from the new Cumberland Council, had to increase the number of stalls available due to unprecedented demand for stalls amongst the region’s young traders.

The Teenage Market is a fast-growing nationwide initiative set up by teenage brothers Joe and Tom Barratt in Stockport to transform our town and city centres with the Anya on her soap stall (Image: Isaac Cooper)creativity of young people.

In addition to stalls, there was also live music throughout the day. Local performers included Northern Heights dance school, local band The Spectrum and solo performances from young local singers.

Stall holders were unanimous in saying that the event was a great success and similar events should be held in the future.

Luke Eilsworth, who is 18 and from Silloth, was selling vintage football shirts in person for the first time having only run his business online.  

Luke on his football shirt stall (Image: Isaac Cooper)He started his business after being laid off from his part time during the pandemic.

“It’s been a great day and I’ve had lots of interest so far,” said Luke.

“It’s my first time selling to people in person and definitely something I’m going to do in the future.

Anya Griffin, 17, was at the market selling her range of handmade soaps, a skill which she learnt how to do in lockdown whilst Loulou was selling a selection of baked goods which she has been doing since she was just 2 years old.

Loulou on her Squig's Organic Bake stall (Image: Isaac Cooper)Members of the public were supportive of the event with one local saying that it was ‘nice to see the city buzzing again.’

“There’s a lot of doom and gloom going on at the moment so its just nice to see the city buzzing again with these talented youngsters and their stalls” said Carlisle local, Anne.

Traders hope that another teenage market can be held in the future and that it can become a regular fixture in the city centre.