A monthly Sunday market, which attracted more than 1,000 people last month, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic – but it hasn’t stopped trading.
A virtual market has been created to replace the Sunday Fine Food & Craft Market at The Garage in Chilwell.
Events had been due to take place on April 5, May 3 and June 7 but the venue, the former Barton’s bus depot, has temporarily closed following the Government’s advice.
Visitors can now browse and buy from more than 60 independent traders from Notts and the rest of the East Midlands on an online platform.
Many of the businesses rely on the monthly event as a main source of income.
The Virtual Sunday Fine Food & Craft Market can be found at the Garage Chilwell Facebook page and features all the traders who were expected to attend the market over the next few months.
Director James Barton said: “While of course it won’t have the same wonderful bohemian atmosphere that upwards of 1,000 people enjoyed last month, safety is our main concern.
“We hope many of our visitors who were planning on attending can head over to our website to browse and buy online from this group of talented and passionate independent local traders. Or, even just show support by following a business online, reposting or retweeting.
“At a difficult time, this sort of encouragement can mean a lot and costs nothing.”
The virtual market has images and links to each business amongst them Bake Actually, selling brownies, tray bakes and chocolate pizza, Anna’s Book Lounge, and Calum Mallory Photography, specialising in gifts, cards and prints of landscapes, birds and flowers.
