Support Teenage Markets

Preview by Steve Cooke

The Teenage Market is returning to Rochdale on Saturday 5 April 2025 from 11am until 3pm. It’s free to attend and will be staged indoors on the ground floor of Number One Riverside in the town centre.

The event gives young traders and performers aged between 13 and 25 years old from across the borough a chance to showcase their creative products and talents for free. There will be lots to see and do for all ages, with performances throughout the day from the Rochdale Music Service.

There’s no need to book, just drop in and enjoy the music whilst shopping from an excellent selection of handmade treats. 

This April’s market follows two very successful teenage markets last year at Rochdale Town Hall in October, and Middleton Gardens in December.

The Teenage Market is a fast-growing nationwide initiative set up by the teenage brothers Joe and Tom Barratt in Stockport to transform town and city centres with the creativity of young people. The energy, diversity and vibrancy of the young people who take part in Teenage Markets is helping to breathe life back into high streets, town centres and market areas all across the country, with events being run in over 25 locations.

Rochdale Creates have been putting on free training and advice sessions on evenings and weekends to help prepare stallholders for the markets. These have included hearing from established businesses who have offered advice and support for first time market traders.

Co-creator of the Teenage Market, Joe Barratt, said: “The Teenage Market really is the key to identifying a new generation of market traders by making young people an active part of our town centres.”

The Teenage Market in Rochdale kicks off a year of projects and events as part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture for 2025/26. The annual award by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) highlights the creativity and diversity of one of Greater Manchester’s towns, putting a spotlight on remarkable art, culture and heritage across the region. Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement with more than 35 arts organisations bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events and performances.

To see the range of stallholders and performers taking part in the Rochdale Teenage Market visit https://theteenagemarket.co.uk/events/rochdale-teenage-market-2/ 

To keep up to date with plans for the Rochdale Teenage Market follow on Instagram at @rochdale.creates or visit our Rochdale Creates website profile here: https://www.rochdalecreates.co.uk/directory/the-teenage-market

You can also ‘like’ The Teenage Market on Facebook and follow them on X.