Southsea comes to life with busy market

Palmerston Road was bustling as people took advantage of the Love Southsea Market.

Many local companies, from makers, artists and illustrators, to vintage clothes traders, jewellery-makers and food merchants, set up stalls.

One trader was Paul Parsons, of Urban Gallery UK.

He explained why the market is so important to the local area.

He said: ‘I teach graphic design during the week, so selling at markets like this is the only way we can really sell.

‘The markets are hugely important. If you look at our products it is all about being “Portsmouth and Proud” which is huge, and markets like this are a great chance to promote what the city’s businesses have to offer.

‘We are one of the regular traders here and what’s great to see is that this market is improving each time.’

There was also Southsea Bathing Hut and its director, Samantha Worsey, shared Paul’s sentiments.

She said: ‘It is crucial, especially for small businesses like us.

‘We are doing really well at the moment but we are not quite at a stage where we can afford a retail shop, so this is really important.

‘If we didn’t have markets like this we would have to go online where the market place is really crowded.

‘When we started out we just sold a lot of traditional Portsmouth soaps, but through these markets we have had an opportunity to expand and now we sell a wide range of cosmetics that are all made locally from our kitchen table.’

To find out more, visit lovesouthsea.co.uk.