User:Acrimin/English Market

The English Market (Irish: An Margadh Sasanach) is a municipal food market in the center of Cork, Ireland. It is a covered market that sells locally produced, artisan foods as well as a variety of imported meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Aside from foodstuffs, the modern day market also sells cloth and gifts. It is well supported locally and has become a tourist attraction. The market was chosen by the Observer Food Monthly as one of the top ten markets in all of Europe, and is part of the reason why Cork is regarded as the Food Capital of Ireland.

The market is made-up of an area stretching from Princes Street Market and Grand Parade Market. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and is closed on Sundays as well as bank holidays. The entrances to the market on Princes Street and Grand Parade are wheel-chair accessible and have disabled parking spaces available.

History
The term English Market was coined in the 19th Century to distinguish the market from the nearby St. Peter's Market (now the site of the Bodega on Cornmarket Street), which was known as the Irish Market. The present group of buildings was constructed in the mid-19th century with the ornamental entrance at Princes Street being constructed in 1862 by Sir John Benson. The market did not physically change much in the next century or so until it was seriously damaged by fire on 19 June 1980 and had to be extensively refurbished by Cork City Council. The refurbishment work was done in sympathy with the original Victorian building's design and won a Gold Medal from the Europa Nostra heritage foundation for conservation shortly after its completion. The refurbished market suffered a second fire in 1986 but the fire was less damaging than the first.

The original English Market, the Grande Parade Meat Market was created and run by a Protestant corporation in 1788. The Irish government was reformed in 1840 when the Catholic majority retook the city. At that time they created their own market, the Irish Market. The markets served mainly the wealthy of the city, both Protestant and Catholic. It remained open during the Great Famine thanks to a the market guards who were tasked with preventing undesirables from entering the marketplace. In 1881, the city combined multiple markets into the Grand Parade Market Buildings.

During World War One, British forces razed the city, but the market survived with only minor damages.

Ownership
The market is owned by the Cork City Council, but the day to day operations are run by Aramark Property on the council's behalf. Since its refurbishment the market has become more multicultural, and a variety of fresh produce from around the world can be bought there. However, the market is still best known for its fresh fish and butchers, and it serves many of the city's top restaurants. It is a source of local specialities such as drisheen, spiced beef, and buttered eggs.

Cork City Council and the site's traders marked the market's 230th anniversary in August 2018.

Vendors wishing to sell at the Market must lease a space through the Cork City Council. Traditional, artisanal and local vendors are heavily preferred over supermarket chains and vendors who sell prepackaged foodstuffs. All spots have a twenty-one year lease, and there are only vacancies if a current traders lease is up, or they wish to leave early. A current trader wishing to vacate must propose a new trader to take over the remainder of their lease, and the City Council must approve of the new trader in order to make the swap official.

Start Up Stalls
This particular practice allows local, food-based businesses a chance to bring in new customers. A stall may be rented for four to six weeks after a successful application. The stall cannot compete with any current market vendors when it comes to goods, and it must not sell hot foods. All foods must be prepared and processed off-site. Additionally, there is a licensing fee of roughly €150-€200 per week. The specific stall used in this program is Unit #3 of the Grand Parade Market.

The Start Up Stall is primarily used to give local businesses an opprotunity to network and build their customer base, although it is also a constantly changing attraction for the market itself. It is meant to help new businesses grow rather than secure them a spot in the market itself, as the primary market spots are both expensive and in short supply. The first Start Up Stall launched in July of 2016, and has been constantly rotating in new businesses since then.

Notable Media Appearances
In 2016 and 2017, the English Market was used as a location for the film The Young Offenders and the subsequent TV series of the same name.

The market was visited by Queen Elizabeth II during a state visit in 2011, and by Charles, Prince of Wales during a visit in 2018. Both were served by fishmonger Pat O'Connell.