Bury Market has been around since the middle of the 15th century and is widely regarded as the best in the country. Every week more than 250,000 shoppers from North West England and beyond are drawn by its fabulous array of stalls and unique friendly atmosphere.
Owned and operated by Bury Council the market covers over 200,000 square feet, houses almost 400 stalls, and provides jobs for more than 2,000 traders.
While visiting David Cameron said that Bury Market had a ‘really good atmosphere and very friendly people. I only saw about a twentieth of it. It is absolutely enormous. Having a bit of traditional Lancashire black pudding was great.’
Layout
The market is divided into three sections; the Indoor Market, the Fish & Meat Hall, and the Open Market.
Fish & Meat Hall
The Fish & Meat Hall lies between the Open Market and the Market Hall and is the centrepiece of the market. It’s modern, bright and clean, covered from the weather, and the best place to come for high quality fish and meat.
The butchers and fishmongers here are familiar with the source of their products, and are more than willing to provide customers with advice on the best deals, and prepare them as required.
Most of the products are sourced locally or in the UK and there’s a massive choice, far greater than that at even the biggest supermarkets.
Albert’s is one of the most popular stalls here. The legendary butchers are known for supplying quality meats from the best farms in Lancashire, Cumbria, and Cheshire. They’re perhaps best known for their Galloway sirloin steak, sourced from Deep Clough Farm in the Forest of Bowland, and aged for a month.
Market Hall
The Market Hall is home to more than 60 shops selling a wide range of products such as clothes, mobile phones, electrical goods, DVDs, books, health products, jewellery, newspapers and magazines, shoes, and food.
There are some interesting places to eat and drink here too. Mrs Ogden’s Tea Room is a great place to grab a full English breakfast to set you up for a day’s shopping. Katsouris Delicatessen is packed with freshly baked breads, continental sausages and meat, a massive selection of olives, pates and more.
Open Market
The Open Market is the largest of the three markets with around 300 stalls selling almost everything under the sun. Despite the name, most of it is actually covered.
Bury Market is famous for its black puddings and there are a couple of local firms competing for the action. Chadwick’s Original Bury Black Puddings and The Bury Black Pudding Company have stalls next to each other and are fierce rivals.
Black puddings can be ordered hot or cold, traditional (with fat) or lean, and topped with mustard or piccalilli. They’re extremely popular and there are frequently queues to buy them.
Harry Muffin is another famous stall here. It’s the place to come for huge Chorley and Eccles cakes, Manchester Tarts, jam slices, oven bottom muffins, and whinberry (bilberry) pies. They also sell hand-raised meat pies from Haslingden’s Cissy Greens, widely regarded as one of the best bakeries in England.
Market Days & Opening Times
When planning a trip to Bury Market please bear in mind the opening times. They are:
Open Market – Opening times are 9 am to 4.30 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.
Market Hall – Opening times are 9 am to 5 pm (4pm Tuesday), Monday to Saturday.
Fish & Meat Hall – Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, closes at lunchtime on Tuesday.
The best time to visit Bury Market is on a Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, when all areas are open.
Location
Bury Market is located in Bury town centre just south of the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. The Rock, Angouleme Retail Park, the Fusilier Museum, and the East Lancashire Railway are all within easy walking distance.
Directions
Car
To reach Bury Market by car leave the M66 motorway and Junction 2 and just follow the A58 (Rochdale Road/Angouleme Way) to Bury. There are plenty of car parks in the area. The closest are the multi-storey car park at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre and the surface level car park opposite the market (over the A58 – there is a subway).
Bus and Metrolink
Bury Interchange incorporates both the town’s bus station and the Bury Metrolink station. It’s located just west of the market. The Metrolink offers frequent services to Manchester and on to Altrincham and other destinations. During the daytime there is one tram every six minutes.
The best market I have ever been to. Have stopped shopping in supermarkets. Anyone can live cheaply by shopping here and the food quality is excellent. Traders extremely friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Makes shopping a fun activity rather than a drudge .
We live in summer wine country, Holmfirth, and visit the market at least 5 or 6 times a year. There are no markets to compare with Bury market in our locality, so we come over the “tops” on a regular basis. Very enjoyable day out. Good food served in the many cafes in the market, and a good variety of food goods to purchase. Bury black puddings to die for! Ricky.
Sounds good.
How close is the disabled parking to Bury Market? I cannot walk far.
Went for the first time a few weeks back it was like going back in time to how the uk’s markets use to be full of atmosphere community spirit
Well may you continue BURY MARKET you are the best xx
Bury Market throws out the whole idea that you cannot eat healthily and cheaply. I bought a week’s supply of vegetables, fruit and meat, for £25. They do enough meat for a month for £20 in the meat and fish market and it is superb quality. The problem with Bury Market, is that once you have been on it, you begrudge paying the prices elsewhere.
Went to Bury Market on 25 August. What a great market. Ee got some good bargains. It was a lovely sunny day too and we had a great afternoon. Looking forward to our next visit. We live in West Yorkshire. Nothing like this here.
Our first visit to bury market today 22/6/15. Not a full market day. We came to sus it out and we are very impressed. Friendly folk (mainly) and you can get all you want. My wife loved it and now I will have to bring her more often!. It was all we had heard about.
Went first time from the Wirral 2 years ago and have been several times since. Great market and everyone very friendly. You can really purchase anything you want. A great day out.
Bury Market is an exceptional place. There are stall selling everything. The food is high quality and many offer free samples to try before you buy. I do not go to Tesco as much since discovering this place.
Bury Market has just won the ‘Coach Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year’ award at the National Coach Tourism Awards. The other finalists were Ashton Market, Ena Mill, and Gloucester Quays Outlet.
A great market for a stranger from over the hills (Clitheroe). Always a happy and friendly place to shop. If you can’t get it here, it ain’t been made.
The very best market in the north of England.
The fish stall first in on the left is first class. we go every Friday for fish and it is a pleasure to be served.
The young girl Kelly on Willis fruit stall is a lovely caring assistant. She always has a smile on her face and is a pleasure to be served by.
The market is very popular with coach parties.
I went yesterday.
I found it all a bit overwhelming too much to look at and too much walking but a nice friendly place.
Probably visit again but not to do it all in one day.
Don’t leave here without trying one of Bury’s famous black puddings.