Vote for York’s Shambles Market to win Best Outdoor Market!
Make It York is proud to announce that York’s Shambles Market is in the running for the ‘Best Outdoor Market’ title at this year’s Great British Market Awards, organised by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA).
Cast your vote for Shambles Market to win.
The Shambles Market in York is the city’s only permanent outdoor market, based in the historic core between the Shambles and Parliament Street.
Open every day, the Shambles Market brings together local traders from York and across Yorkshire. Visitors can explore a vibrant mix of stalls offering quality handmade products, delicious local treats, and one-of-a-kind crafts – there’s always something new to discover.
Nestled within the historic Shambles Market, you’ll find the sensory delight at Shambles Food Court. Open daily, this vibrant, dog-friendly spot offers a diverse mix of delicious street food – from North African and Middle Eastern dishes to Thai delights, bagels, gourmet sandwiches and the traditional fish & chips.
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said:
“The Shambles Market has always been at the heart of our community, and our team works tirelessly to create an outstanding experience for our residents, our visitors and our traders. Thank you to all the traders whose commitment continues to drive the market’s growth and future success. We would love your support to help us celebrate it, please spread the word and vote for us!”
Voting is open until midnight on 12 December 2025. Vote for Shambles Market.
History of Shambles Market
In 700 AD, Saxon-populated York drafted its first market charter. This gave York the right to hold a market in a specific place and upon particular days of the week. York’s market charter remained intact throughout its Viking invasion in 837 AD and the Harrying of the North by the Normans in 1069 and continues today.
Through the years, York became home to many markets for different products scattered around the city. In 1837, a single market site was created on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, staying in this position for 127 years. In 1964, Newgate Market was specially created behind the buildings on Shambles and Parliament Street and remains the site of the market today.
After a refurbishment in 2014 the renamed Shambles Market underwent a transformation. Shambles Market now accommodates 69 covered stalls, an impressive food court and a place for many local and independent businesses to start-up, grow and develop. The Market is a modern retail success story.
In 2024, the Shambles Market joyously commemorated its 60th anniversary, marking a momentous milestone in its rich history.
For more information about Shambles Market, visit: Shambles Market | Visit York
Tag and follow @shamblesmarketyork
END
PRESS RELEASE: date
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Make It York
Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally – as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. Its mission is to grow the economic prosperity and wider wellbeing of York and its citizens. In practice, this means delivering a range of projects and programmes based around our corporate strategic priorities. These are: City positioning and profile-raising; Ensuring an exciting city centre; Delivering the city’s ground-breaking Cultural Strategy. MakeItYork.com
About Visit York
Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand. Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York. Activity covers all aspects of tourism marketing and PR, including market intelligence, as well as providing business support through the membership programme. Visit York operate the Visit York Pass, York’s city-sightseeing card, and run the Visitor Information Centre. VisitYork.org
About NABMA
The National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) have been representing and working on behalf of member markets for more than 100 years. Markets from across the whole of the UK form the membership. NABMA works with a range of organisations including Government to promote and campaign for markets. As well as the Great British Market awards, NABMA operates annual campaign Love Your Local Market. nabma.com
