THE man behind the new Bournemouth market said it has been “amazing” and added that they were looking at plans to expand.

Paul Lewis, of Southern Market Traders, set up the market which runs every Sunday from Beale Place to near McDonald's.

It has a host of independent retailers and street food stalls from around the world.

Mr Lewis said: “I have to say it is amazing. The BID is happy, the council’s happy and I think the shops are benefitting from it.

“It’s hard to say what footfall is because it’s the middle of summer and we’re in a staycation.

“Not everyone knows about is of course, we are doing quite a bit, but you can’t do everything.

“I wouldn’t have guessed it would be this successful.”

Mr Lewis said he hoped to run the market through Christmas, but they only have permission until the Christmas market was set up in November.

He added: “We got over little problems and we are all working together to get problems sorted, it seems to be working for us.

“People are coming from far and wide. I would love to expand it and we are looking for more space, there’s room for expansion and we are looking at it.

“We are not having the best summer, so if you are not on the beach, come to the market.

“I am over the moon. I couldn’t wish for it to be any better. We have got a good mixture of traders and we are looking to improve what we have got to offer and that’s what we will keep doing."

Paul Kinvig, chief operating officer of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said: “It has gone really well, we are really pleased with it.

“All across the country we have found markets are things that people are looking at to reconnect with the town centre.

“Mr Lewis has tried to have as many stalls as possible that complement the existing businesses in the town.

“It is the kind of thing that we are looking at trying to develop. It has added to the recovery footfall, even now it is recovering from the pandemic.”