With the UK’s lockdown restrictions easing this week, Ross-on-Wye Town Council is very much looking forward to its traders and markets reopening for business once more.

The Ross Market will see its first full markets trading on Thursday April 15 and Saturday April 17 in the Market Square, and there will also be a Ross Spring Market next to The Bandstand in Caroline Symonds Gardens over the weekend of April 17 and 18.

From Monday non-essential retail was permitted to open again, including hair and nail salons and public buildings such as libraries. Outdoor socialising is also possible with most outdoor venues open, including pubs’ and restaurants’ outdoor tables and beer gardens. Customers will have to be seated but there will be no need to have a meal with alcohol. Leisure facilities such as gyms and pools will also reopen but people can only go alone or with their own household. There will also be reopening of holiday lets with no shared facilities and only for one household.

The regular Ross Market in the Market Square will open on Thursday April 15 at 9am and will welcome back the regular traders selling fish, cheese and fresh fruit and veg plus many others who have been unable to trade during lockdown. It’s a great opportunity to meet the traders and shop local, which is essential if the town is to get back on its feet after a long year of interrupted trading.

Ed O’Driscoll, Chair of Ross-on-Wye Town Council’s Tourism Committee commented: “It’s been a really long year for our market traders - we’ve only been operating at reduced capacity on Thursdays for the last few months as trading has been restricted to essential goods only. We’re so pleased we can finally reopen to full capacity and we do hope the community comes out to support them and give them a much-needed boost so we can get our economy back on track.”

There will also be a brand new Spring Market on Saturday 17 (9am-5pm) and Sunday April 18 (10am-5pm) next to the Bandstand by the river, organised by Zoom Events.

“We are excited to be visiting Ross-on-Wye for the first time,” said Paul Kennedy, director of Zoom Events. “Our Spring Market will feature a layout which accommodates social distancing and extra sanitation measures will be in place. We want to create a vibrant, interesting shopping experience that is also safe for people to enjoy at this time.”

The market will feature local traders as well as those from further afield and visitors will be able to enjoy handmade street foods from around the world including pork or chicken souvlaki, fajitas, burritos, churros plus Thai and Chinese dishes. There will be an outdoor seating area for alfresco dining with distanced tables and queuing systems for the bar and food outlets. A range of artisan groceries from continental fine foods will be available to take away and enjoy. The foodie treats will be accompanied by an array of stalls selling unique arts, crafts, clothing and accessories providing shoppers an opportunity to find unusual items for the home or gifts for friends and family.