Oldham’s new market has opened to an enthusiastic welcome, with queues snaking around the building even before the ribbon was cut. The £38 million facility, located on the site of the former TJ Hughes store, officially opened its doors on Saturday, March 28, marking a significant step in the town’s regeneration.

The chilly morning did not dampen the spirits of the crowds who had waited for the space, which connects to The Spindles shopping centre and opens into Parliament Square. Traders inside were equally buoyant, with Anton Jaskiewicz of The Battery Shop expressing his optimism. “I’m hoping it improves everyone’s lives because the town centre needs a boost and I think the council has done a good job. It looks beautiful, tidy and fantastic really,” he said. “Before in the old market, when it was winter it was cold. When it was summer it was hot. This is like t-shirt weather this time of year.” He added that the walk-through from Spindles would likely boost footfall, noting the hard work put in during the week leading up to the opening.

About 45 traders have relocated from the Tommyfield site to what is simply known as The Market. Queues quickly formed at stalls as Oldham Council leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, shared her hopes for the new venture. “But I think if I went back to them in five years’ time and said, ‘Do you want to go back?’ they’d be like ‘no’. The reality about this space is that it’s modern, it’s new, the old place was looking really tired, and they deserve this and I want them to just thrive in it,” she said. “This was long overdue. It should have happened a long time ago and I just want the people of Oldham to understand and appreciate that we will always be a marketing town.”

Shah emphasised the natural footfall the location provides, situated near The Spindles, the new event space, Parliament Square, and surrounding cafes and shops. She vowed to continue with wider regeneration efforts, stating, “Oldham has always had something going for it and now we can now finally see it in reality.”

The opening drew parliamentary interest, with Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon getting a close-up look. “The thing that is probably most inspiring is just how much people are rallying behind it. People naturally are nervous about change. Because Tommyfield, for more than 100 years, has been a staple of Oldham’s identity, our history, in a town where a lot of change has happened, people do hold on to the certainty of what they know,” he said. “Naturally people question whether that’s a good change or one that’s going to be worrying. In the end, the proof is in the pudding.” He highlighted that behind every counter is a local person who has invested in the town, distinguishing the market from larger national stores.

The new market is part of a broader transformation for Oldham town centre, with the archives recently moving into a new base at The Spindles and continued development around Parliament Square. For traders and residents alike, the opening represents a bold new chapter, blending modern facilities with the community spirit that has long defined the town’s market heritage.