WHEN DOES THE MARKET TAKE PLACE? AND WHAT TIME?
Our market takes place on the Second Sunday of the Month. From May to November.
Trading hours are 10am - 3pm
WHERE DOES THE MARKET TAKE PLACE, IS IT OUTSIDE?
The market takes place right in the heart of Bedford Town Centre on St Paul's Square. And yes it is outside! With cobbled pavement & the stunning church of St Paul's and the river just around the corner it's lovely place to be. The postcode is MK40 1SL
HOW MANY STALLHOLDERS WILL THERE BE?
At full capacity we have space for 14 Flea Sellers, 12Â Art sellers and 20 Local Produce sellers. The number of stallholders will of course vary from month to month. Our aim is to keep it as full as possible but sometimes this can be beyond our control. However hard we try!
I ALREADY GO TO THE MARKETS IN BEDFORD, ISN'T YOURS JUST THE SAME?
No it isn't! We are the only Flea market in Bedford and wherever possible we have chosen sellers that do not already sell on the weekly Bedford markets. We don't want to replicate what is already being done so well and our aim is to offer something that little bit different to what you'd normally see.
THE NAME IS AÂ BIT OF A MOUTHFUL, WHAT WILL I FIND AT THE MARKET?
Tell us about it! We have tried to shorten it, abbreviate it, initialise it, you name it but however we tried, it just didn't work! We wanted the three sections to be of equal importance and also make it clear what type of market it was. So Bedford Flea, Affordable Art & Local Produce stayed. You might see us referring to it as Bedford Flea or BedFlea because sometimes it's just easier!
You will find:
FLEA: You’ll find a smorgasbord of unique, second-hand goods that fall under antiques, vintage, collectables, bric-a-brac & curiosities. It’s all about the one-offs so if you see something you like, don’t delay!
AFFORDABLE ART: Talented artists with fresh ideas – from photography to glass, intricate oil paintings to contemporary illustration. And, all based within a stone’s throw of Bedford.
LOCAL PRODUCE – NEW: Locally grown ingredients and homemade produce direct to you, from small, artisan businesses that are within a maximum of 30 miles from Bedford (as the crow flies). From local meat and cheese and locally brewed beer, to sauces and condiments, cakes and skincare!
WILL THE STALLHOLDERS BE THE SAME EVERY MONTH?
Whilst we do have some regular stallholders signed up for all eight dates, some stallholders will vary month by month.
This is the beauty of our market! As well as seeing familiar faces, you will also be discovering amazing new ones each month.
This keeps the market exciting and keeps customers coming back to see what's new!
We understand that our sellers have family commitments or other work commitments, especially during the summer and it's important to us that they can attend those too.
We also like that the market will be slightly different each time, not only with new artworks, new treasures or a new products, but with new sellers too.
I DON'T OFTEN CARRY CASH, CAN I PAY BY CARD?
Most of our stallholders will accept both cash and card payments and we very much encourage them to do so. However it's worth bringing some cash with you on the day, just incase!
I CAN'T WAIT TO VISIT, WHERE CAN I PARK?
There are several car parks close by, both multi-storey and surface car parks. Plus parking in Council Owned car parks is free on Sundays!
You can find a map of them here
The nearest disabled parking is either directly in front of The Shire Hall on St Paul's Square or in the side road that runs along the side of the Corn Exchange.
You can find out more about Blue Badge parking in Bedford here
HOW DO I APPLY TO BECOME A STALLHOLDER?
If you'd like to apply to join the Flea Family please apply once applications are open and fill in a short online form.
Applications for 2024 will open on Thursday 1st February at 9am.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SELL AT BEDFORD FLEA?
Cost vary depending on the pitch, prices for 2024 currently start at £35+. Please contact us for more detailed pricing and let us know which area of the market you are interested in selling in.
WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM OTHER MARKETS?
Good question! Well we are the only market that combines Flea, Art and Produce in Bedford. In fact, we are the only Flea market in the town and also the first dedicated Local Produce/Farmer's Market too!
Our Local Produce section gathers your market staples, along with artisan food and drink sellers, as well as locally produced fragrance and body care, and all from within 30 miles of St Paul's Square
Our Affordable Art section aims to emulate the vibes of Montmartre in Paris, where the streets overflow with art piled high on easels. All of our artists are local to Bedfordshire and you'll see for yourself that we are an incredibly talented town.
IS IT A CASH MARKET? DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT CARD?
Both cash and card are accepted methods of payment at our markets.
We strongly advise you invest in a card reader, as two small business owners that have sold at various markets, they ensure you don't miss out on a sale!
We both have iZettle card readers, they are simple to use and you can normally get them on a special offer.
DO I NEED INSURANCE?
Yes, Bedford Borough Council requires you to have Public Liability Insurance. This covers both you, your stock and the general public from any mishaps that might occur (but hopefully won't!)
It can be obtained for a few pounds a month.
I SELL AT ANOTHER BEDFORD MARKET, CAN I STILL APPLY?
We will always welcome applications. With Local Produce especially, we are keen to avoid duplicating the regular weekly markets that take place in Bedford. That's why we will prioritise applications from people who don't already sell at a Bedford market to give them a chance to sell locally! We believe there's space for all the markets to fit nicely alongside each other and give everyone a fair chance to get their business out there.
WHAT TYPE OF ARTWORK WILL YOU ACCEPT IN THE AFFORDABLE ART SECTION?
All our Affordable Art sellers with be provided with one of our custom built A-Boards. Due to this stall set up will only be able to accept applications from artists that predominately work in a 2D format. For example; paintings, illustrations, photography, printmaking, drawings etc.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer places for more craft based arts like jewellery, yarn based items, home decor and the like.
DO I NEED TO BRING MY OWN TABLE OR GAZEBO?
If you are a Flea or Local Produce seller than you will need to provide your own table. Flea sellers will be situated under the permanent Market Gazebos on the square.
Local Produce sellers will need to bring your own sturdy gazebo plus weights.
Art sellers will be under cover, be provided with one of our custom built A-Boards and can add on their own browsers, small side tables or props to build a 360 display.
I CAN'T MAKE SOME OF THE DATES, CAN I STILL APPLY?
Yes please! We both run small businesses and have families and we understand that sometimes it's not possible to commit to all dates. Consistency is still important though, especially in Local Produce, as customers are loyal and like to purchase from the same business each month. So if you can do all dates...perfect! If not, don't worry, we'd still love to have you on board.
I SELL FROM A TRAILER/VAN, IS THERE SPACE FOR ME?
St Paul's Square is a large space! We definitely have space for trailers or vans. Contact us with more details and we can price up a pitch for you.