New Grimsby book sold at Top Town Market for limited time – and 10 other Christmas present picks

Grimsby’s Top Town Market officially extends its opening hours next week, encouraging festive shoppers to remain ‘loyal to local’ and visit the indoor venue in the run-up to Christmas.

As an added bonus, the market has been opening outside its normal Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays since lockdown ended – an offer that has been taken up by a number of the stallholders, keen to recoup lost trade.

However, on Tuesday 15 December, it’s full steam ahead with all stalls open from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Saturday, until Christmas Eve, which is an annual arrangement.

One addition to the market this week will be the familiar face of former mayor Cllr Jane Hyldon-King and her husband. They have rented a kiosk at the venue for two days – Friday 11 December and Saturday 12 December – to promote Jane’s new book ‘The Girl from the Marsh’ and Paul’s latest book.

Called ‘More than Railways’, Paul’s is the third in his trilogy of publications centering upon the railways of North East Lincolnshire, and associated transport. A well-known local figure for decades, Jane has marked her milestone 70^th birthday by penning her recollections of growing up on the East Marsh, within a family of seven children.

As Jane gets ready to welcome shoppers, we take a look at some other Christmas present ideas people can pick up on the market stalls:

10 market picks for Christmas present ideas:

1. Collectable and fun pieces from KP Collectables – Royal Doulton Disney’s always a favourite
2. Did you know Grimsby Town Football Club has a stall until Christmas?
3. Another local book ‘Christmas with the Variety Girls’, penned by Tracy Baines was spotted on the Black Cat Book Shop stall – a great Christmas read set in Cleethorpes
4. Fashion bags at Bonita Fashion are a popular buy
5. For the festive ‘foodies’. Carl’s Meats has Red Onion Marmalade & Mandarin Curd – and don’t forget Birketts Butchers & Deli. You can buy their pork pies now and freeze until Christmas – their scones look pretty good too.
6. Vintage & Retro Collectabila has everyone’s favourite snowman on show
7. Unusual but fun ornaments at Woodtique
8. According to Graham Thompson Jewellery, the cuckoo clocks are a good Christmas seller
9. Slippers, found at The Shoe Box, are always a festive favourite
10. A personalised picture frame from Cobblers & Keys could be a good festive present

Supporting the stall holders this Christmas, Councillor John Fenty, portfolio holder for regeneration and skills, said: “We have a great local shopping facility here, where people can browse in a COVID-Secure environment, with plenty of space and opportunity to support local businesses and now is the time to show that support.”

Extra opening hours are:

• From Wednesday 2 December to Wednesday 23 December, all stalls on the market can open 9am-5pm, Monday to Saturday
• On Sunday 20 December, the market will be open 10am-4pm
• On Christmas Eve, the market will be open 8am-3pm

Grimsby Top Town Market is a member of the Loyal to Local Scheme – a joint North East Lincolnshire Council and E-Factor campaign to promote and support local businesses.

If you would like to be part of the market, call (01472) 325836. The market team is currently offering a 25 per cent discount on some of its vacant stalls.

You can find Grimsby Top Town Market on Facebook for updates and more details on the stalls.