A new chapter for South Molton Pannier Market began on Thursday 16 April 2026 as the town officially opened South Molton Outdoor Market in the newly named Drovers Yard.
Located between South Molton Pannier Market and Central Car Park, the new outdoor market was formally opened with a red ribbon ceremony attended by Mayor Paul Henderson, with Adam Nichols, Market Manager, cutting the ribbon to mark the occasion.
The opening marks another major milestone for South Molton Pannier Market, which was recently named winner of Britain’s Favourite Market 2026, and reflects the continued growth of the market and the strong demand from traders and visitors alike.
The new outdoor market launched with 12 new traders, all of whom enjoyed a strong first day, helped by good weather and a strong flow of visitors throughout the day. Public reaction both before and during the opening was overwhelmingly positive, with many people praising the transformation of the space, describing it as a great addition to the town, and welcoming the expansion of the market.
Among the new arrivals is Vintage Ruby, which will now trade at the outdoor market every Thursday and Saturday, offering baguettes, milkshakes and doggy ice cream.
The space, now newly named Drovers Yard, has been developed with financial backing from South Molton Town Council, whose councillors have shown strong support for the project. The transformation was made possible through a mix of council backing and extensive work on the ground by council staff, with Adam Nichols and Joshua Thomas playing a leading role in getting the area ready to open.
Adam Nichols, Market Manager at South Molton Pannier Market, said: “I’m so proud that we have finally opened South Molton Outdoor Market in Drovers Yard. It is a brilliant addition to what we already offer here, and the feedback on the opening day was phenomenal.
This gives us the chance to welcome more traders, offer even more choice to visitors, and make better use of a central space that now feels full of life and purpose.
It strengthens what we already have, supports small businesses, and gives people even more reason to visit South Molton, enjoy the market, and explore the town.”
Town Clerk Andrew Coates also welcomed the opening and praised the work that had gone into bringing the space to life, describing it as a fantastic asset for the town and highlighting the positive response from traders, visitors and councillors.
South Molton Outdoor Market will now trade every Thursday and Saturday alongside the indoor market, and will also be used as part of the town’s major events, with plans already in motion for the year ahead, including the South Molton Summer Festival on Saturday 8 August.
With strong trader interest, high public support and a successful opening day, South Molton Outdoor Market marks an exciting step forward.
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