Ashton’s award-winning market has done it again. Already voted Britain’s most popular market for the second year running, it has now been named Britain’s most coach-friendly shopping destination in the National Coach Tourism Awards organised by trade magazine Coach Monthly.
The category includes not just markets, but all destinations whose primary attraction is shopping. This can include shopping centres, out-of-town retail parks and garden centres.
Ashton Market finished ahead of Ena Mill, Bury; Gloucester Quays; Isle of Wight Pearl, Shanklin; and the Mains of Drum Garden Centre, Aberdeenshire.
“This latest award again underlines the huge economic importance of Ashton Market to the borough.”“It shows people are happy to travel long distances to visit the market and spend their money there. This benefits our local economy hugely. Visitors from outside the borough always tell us how impressed they are by the market. That’s why they keep coming back, and that’s why they vote for us in awards.”“I would like to thank all traders and staff for their ongoing drive and commitment and – most importantly – all the shoppers and visitors for their loyal support.”
The National Coach Award is only the latest in a series won by Ashton Market. It has been voted Britain’s most popular market for the last two years and was chosen by the National Association of British Market Authorities for the launch of the Great British Market Awards 2015.
Last year Ashton was named Britain’s greenest market for the second year running by the National Market Traders’ Federation, and Tameside Council won NABMA’s market team of the year after impressing judges with the range and quality of markets provided as well as their vision and support of initiatives such as Love Your Local Market.