TRADERS at Riverside Farmers Market have seen a surge in the number of shoppers since the event returned after a Rugby World Cup break.
The market, which is held every Sunday across the river from the Millennium Stadium on Fitzhamon Embankment, was cancelled for two weeks last month because of a fixture clash with two Rugby World Cup games being held in Cardiff.
Andrew Soroka, the owner of the ‘Cylfle i dyfu’ stall said: “The rugby brought more income in. We were here on the first Sunday and it actually brought more business.”
As the two Sunday rugby games each drew in more than 72,000 people, Cardiff Council decided to close the market on October 11 and 18 to make sure the public’s safety was their main priority. The market re-opened on October 25.
The traders at the market say the cancellation meant even more people returned when the market resumed this week because local residents like to buy their weekly food there.
Anne Loam, a local food producer said: “I have regular customers. Last week was the first time after the rugby had been on. It was busy and people were definitely making a point of coming down.”
Kate Miller, a 29-year-old student at Cardiff Metropolitan University said: “I come here as much as I can really. I am a student as well so today I am here to get stuff for a bake sale.
“I come here pretty much every Sunday if I can to get my supplies, especially when they do the street food events once every few months. I also get my fruit and vegetables every now and then.”
Fellow customer Jean Sayce, 55, said: “The variety of what is on sale is good and there is plenty of choice. This is my first time at the market. I was planning to come sooner but it was cancelled but it was definitely worth the wait.”
The Riverside market is open every Sunday from 10am until 2pm and sells flowers, fruit, vegetables, bread, cakes, fish and meat.
It first opened in 1998 as a Christmas market but as it got more popular it moved to the River Taff every Sunday.
