One week after the eat:Nailsea street festival, Nailsea farmers’ market returns after an absence of more than six months.

It is moving into the High Street from Crown Glass Shopping Centre so Nailsea will see the second Saturday road closure this month and the enterprise will now be run by Somerset Farmers Markets.

The new look market launches on Saturday, October 17 with Louise Hall of SFM in charge.

It is booked for the third Saturday of the month from March to December with the next dates, November 21 and December 19.

Louise said: “Back in those innocent pre-Covid days Nailsea Town Council contacted SFM asking if we would take on the running of their popular monthly farmers market.

“Discussions began early in 2020 but then were immediately interrupted for a few months while the country went into lockdown.

“Then we all learned how to hold Zoom discussions and tentative plans began again to be made.

“It was however a new market landscape to navigate with the many changes which have taken place.

“There are  now new health and safety restrictions to contend with and we have a brand new market venue in the High Street which needed a road closure, market licences needed to be applied for and numerous risk assessments completed and of course all with social distancing in mind.

“The initial rather optimistic September launch date came and went but finally we can announce the launch for Saturday, October 17, 9am-1pm in the High Street and we promise it will be worth the wait!

“There will be an abundance of fresh produce from the Barleywood Kitchen Garden, plus highly nutritious micro salads from Portishead based Leafy Greens.

“Cheeses, meats, breads, fish, preserves, ciders and beers will all be featured as well as more unusual treats Somerset treats.

“Everything will initially be taking place in the High Street including craft traders who will join the food producers.

“A community stall each month will be allocated free of charge to a community group and October sees The British Legion coming along to promote its In Bloom poppy event in the lead up to Remembrance Day.”

To receive a full list of who will be attending each month customers are invited to sign up for a monthly e-newsletter which they will receive the week of the market to plan their shopping list by visiting www.somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk.

Traders will also feature on the producers’ online directory.

Somerset Farmers Markets also has popular Facebook and Instagram platforms so you can follow more market news and updates.

Louise added: “We look forward to seeing you on the 17th October and hope it is the start of something rather wonderful for Nailsea High Street.”

Somerset Farmers Market (SFM) is a not-for-profit organisation, which runs several markets across the county.

SFM charge £27 per food and craft stall which can be booked via its website by clicking HERE, email Louise Hall at louise@somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk or call 01373 813812.

It costs Nailsea Town Council more than £5,000 annually to subsidise the market.

Previous market manager Jo Liddiatt resigned in March.

• No new Facebook postings from Nailsea Country Market which runs weekly at Christ Church vestry hall. The group were pinning its hopes on returning in September which has been and gone but have been cooking for 'lots of deliciousness' for farmers' markets at Clevedon and Portishead.

• STOP PRESS: Nailsea People has confirmation that there will have a stall in October in Nailsea