The Flea Market at  Ellesmere Port Market reopens in August as part of the major Market refurbishment project. The reopening event programme will include two free opening events:

Saturday 29 August during the day there will be an artisan market of local makers from 10am until 4pm, combined with the return of the popular Market Warehouse events hosted by Ellesmere Port Collective which will feature local performers, food traders and DJs running from the afternoon until 10pm.

Sunday 30 August – a community focussed day of events featuring local community groups and performers.

On Saturday 12 September from 12 midday a festival style indoor music event, featuring a full day of music with local bands,  headlined by Ellesmere Port’s Ian Prowse & Amsterdam. Often referred to as the ‘Scouse Springsteen’ Ian’s incendiary live show has wowed crowds at Reading, Glastonbury, Beautiful Days and Kendal Calling  and can soon be seen opening for The Waterboys & The Wonder Stuff. The concert will be hosted by Ellesmere Port Collective and tickets will be available from: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Chester/Ellesmere-Port-Flea-Market/Ian-Prowse–Amsterdam/42469371/

A further artisan market will take place on Saturday 29 September (10am to 4pm).

On Saturday 31 October  the Flea Market will welcome the return of the ever-popular Comic Con event, a must for fans of comics, films, video games and pop-culture, that will be bigger and better than ever before and with special additional attractions to coincide with Halloween.

The regular weekly Flea Market selling second hand goods returns to the space, every Monday morning.

The Flea Market has been transformed to create a flexible space next to the re-designed and improved market hall with its own entrance so it can now operate outside of the market trading hours. The space has been brought up to the latest standards with new sound system, free wi-fi and hearing loop,  a new toilets suite and fully inclusive with level access for all.

The new space features three colourful murals by local artist Graham Boyd, highlighting the town’s heritage of the Hooton Park Aerodrome, the first Vauxhall Viva rolling off the production line on 1 June in 1964 and the Shropshire Union Canal.

Gemma Davies, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Director of Housing and Economy said: “The Flea Market has been transformed into a fantastic space that will enable a wide range of events to be held and we’re really pleased to have such a strong launch programme lined up. We are keen to hear from any community or commercial organisations that would like to use the Flea Market in the future and help us maximise the potential of this wonderful new venue for the town.”

Luke Done, Ellesmere Port Collective CIC said: “We are delighted to be able to host events in the refurbished Flea Market, Ellesmere Port has been crying out for such a flexible and modern space and this could be a real game changer for the town and its residents.”

More events will be added in the coming weeks, for more information see: www.ellesmereport.market

Anyone interested in holding events or booking the space can get in touch via markets@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

The Ellesmere Port Town Centre regeneration project has been funded by the government’s, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ian Prowse’s journey in music began with indie band Pele back in 1991. The band signed to Polydor and promptly had a Number 1 hit in South Africa with ‘Megalomania’. The band’s relentless touring won them a huge cult live following, with multiple successful headline UK tours. They also opened for The Pogues and Del Amitri on their respective 1992 sold out tours. Along with their acclaim won on the road, Pele saw significant radio success, with their first four singles hitting the BBC Radio 1 playlist. 

Ian then formed Amsterdam in 1999 – while the millennium was a slow start for the band, everything changed in 2005. Their classic hit ‘Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?’ had John Peel weeping live on air every time he played it, and the track was then covered by legend Christy Moore and taken to Number 1 in the Irish LP charts. Amsterdam signed to London independent label Beat Crazy, their first single cracking the top 40 at no.32.

In the last couple of years, Ian has been inducted into the Liverpool Legends Hall of Fame, sold out the 100 Club, and opened for Elvis Costello’s last three UK tours, along with shows with The Wonder Stuff, the Blow Monkeys and Damien Dempsey, adding constantly to his ever-expanding fan club. His last album was 2022’s One Hand on the Starry Plough.

Ian counts The Stranglers’ Jean Jacques Burnel, the late Janice Long, presenter Gary Crowley, Mick Jones and comedian Chris Addison as huge admirers of his songwriting.

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