C.H. Mears - main shop
Retail & Wholesale Fruiterers and Caterer
C.H. Mears & Sons take a lot of interest in the Open Market and work hard to make their stalls attractive to customers. Mary Mears represents the stallholders. The family business provides employment for several hard-working market assistants who take an interest in their customers and maintain a good standard of service.
Pat and Mary Mears are often present. Pat's grandfather was among the earliest traders in Brighton's Open Market in the early 1920s - one of those returning from World War 1. In the early years, 90 % of Brighton's residents bought their produce at the Open Market, which boasted 16 greengrocers originally.
Pat and Mary are among the 6 or 7 traders who are preparing plans for a £11 million make-over of Brighton's Open Market.
The picture (below) is an artist’s impression of the main area of Brighton’s proposed Open Market. The roof will be made of metal and glass. There have been slight modifications. The triangular struts will not begin at floor level. There will be pillars first and then struts, beginning higher up, so that people do not knock their heads.
The £11 million revamp will make provision for 56 permanent market stalls, 58 art and craft workshops, a café and 26 one, two and three-bedroom flats (40% of which will be affordable).
These enterprising traders have taken time to study successful markets in other parts of the UK. Their experience and research has now been incorporated into a complete plan, drawn up by Lomax Cassidy Edwards, the architects behind Brighton’s £14 million, award-winning Jubilee Library. Inspiration has also been taken from Study of old Spitalfields Market and Borough Market in Southwark near the banks of The Thames.
Brighton's proposed Open Market consists of a square (large rectangle) stretching from London Road to Ditchling Road. The square will be an open thoroughfare – 24 hours per day. The only closing-time will be on 1 day per year by law to allow the space to be put to another community use. There will be roller shutters on every property to provide security. The closing time of each stall will largely up to individual traders.
There will be room for regular events such as French markets, Farmers’ markets, Craft Fairs and Educational activities such as cookery lessons.
The general concept is “North Laine with a roof on it”, so when it is raining people will still come. It is anticipated that some of the enterprises which can no longer afford North Laine rents will be attracted to the new Open Market, though food stores will still be especially well represented. It is hoped that the market will be able to supply shoppers planning an elaborate dinner party, while still serving customers on lower incomes looking for nutritious food. Priority will be given to local enterprise (not multi-national chains). A local delivery scheme could also be considered.
All stalls will be 3M x 6M, one foot wider and 4 to 5 ft deeper than existing stalls. The floor in the centre of the market hall will be strong enough to put the occasional vehicle e.g. there is a French market trader who bakes bread within his lorry. There will also be access at both London Rd and Ditcling Rd ends for fire engines and ambulances. The market will have a 1st floor, but only on one side, so there will be a balcony overlooking the main hall.
There will be houses and flats in Francis street and 48 dwellings above the market to assist in enabling the development. There will be limited parking with provision for a disabled parking bay (6 spaces). Consideration is being given to a Park and Ride (paid for by the Open Market) running in a large loop from Race Hill to London Road.
The upper storey was to include workshops for the University of Brighton, though now that the university is wants to have these on the site of the wholesale market in Circus Street , there is space for extra traders. A lot of people have shown interest; barbers, organic butchers, bistros (open in the evening), arts & crafts workshops.
There would be space for somebody who wanted a print and design workshop, a nail-polishing stall and even perhaps a local solicitor’s office. However, they would resist any trader who was selling anything too inferior in order not to invite people who merely want to offload junk.