International Street Market brings continental flavour to Aberdeen
08/05/08
Dozens of stall holders offering a wide range of goods from across Continental Europe will be returning to the Granite City next weekend for the first of this year’s Aberdeen International Street Markets.
More than 70 stallholders will be taking part in the 17th International Street Market, which is expected to draw more than 140,000 people into the heart of Aberdeen.
Union Terrace will play host to the event, organised by Paris-based Groupe Géraud — Europe’s largest street market operator — on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, on Friday 16 May, Saturday 17 May, and Sunday 18 May.
City Centre Manager Tom Moore said: “The International Street Market has now become a firm fixture in Aberdeen’s calendar and we are delighted to be welcoming back stallholders for the sixth consecutive year. Following demand, we are running four markets this year.
“On offer will be the usual mix of old favourites and newcomers and we are confident that May’s market and the two others scheduled for later in the year will again prove a huge success with shoppers.”
The markets will again be managed by Francois Xavier-Mauraisin from Paris, who said: “It will be just over six months since our last visit to Aberdeen, and our traders have been getting impatient waiting for their return. It is with sincere enthusiasm that we all look forward to our return to our favourite city in the UK.”
The Council is involved in organising the event logistics, including road closures, bus and taxi diversions, signage and parking.
Union Terrace, including the slip road adjacent to the Pocket Park between Rosemount Viaduct and Union Terrace, will be closed, and Ruby Lane will be closed from Diamond Street to Union Terrace.
The right-turn ban will be suspended for buses only, permitting them to turn right from Skene Street into Rosemount Viaduct.
The closures will be in effect from 5am on Friday 16 May until 10pm on Sunday 18 May.
The diversion route will be via Union Street, Broad Street, Upperkirkgate, Schoolhill. and Rosemount Viaduct.
A temporary bus stop will be put in place on the east side of Skene Square for Stagecoach bus passengers who would normally alight on Union Terrace. The affected services are the numbers 59, 305, 307, 325, 737, and 937. The next stop for these services will be the Guild Street bus station.
Some of the First bus services will also be affected.
The number 5 will follow its normal route from Balnagask to the bus stop on Market Street, then turn right onto Union Street, letting passengers alight at the 14/14A bus stop. It will then travel onto Broad Street, Upperkirkgate, Schoolhill, and Blackfriars Street, before following the normal route to Dubford.
Travelling from Dubford, the bus will follow its normal route to Blackfriars Street, then go via Schoolhill, Upperkirkgate , Broad Street, and Union Street, to Bridge Street - where the bus stop will be in operation, and onto Wapping Street, before resuming its normal route to Balnagask.
The number 3 bus travelling from Cove will follow its normal route to the bus stop on Bridge Street, then turn right onto Union Street and let passengers alight at the service 14/14A bus stop. It will then travel along Broad Street, Upperkirkgate, Schoolhill, and Rosemount Viaduct before resuming the normal route to Mastrick.
Travelling from Mastrick, the number 3 will follow its normal route to South Mount Street and then travel along Rosemout Viaduct, Schoolhill, Upperkirkgate, Broad Street, Union Street, Bridge Street – where the stop will be in use – onto Wapping Street, and then follow the normal route to Cove.
The number 12 bus will follow its normal route from Torry to the stop on Bridge Street, then turn right onto Union Street, letting passengers alight at the 14/14A bus
stop. It will then travel along Broad Street, Upperkirkgate, Schoolhill, and Blackfriars Street before following the normal route to Mastrick.
Travelling from Northfield, the number 12 will follow its normal route to Blackfriars Street, before travelling along Schoolhill, Upperkirkgate, Broad Street, Union Street, Bridge Street – where the bus stop will be in operation - and Wapping Street, and then take the normal route to Torry.
The number 25 from Mastrick will follow its normal route to South Mount Street, turn left onto Skene Street and travel along, Woolmanhill, under the Denburn, along Wapping Street, turn right into Guild Street, and onto Union Street, then follow the normal 25 route back to Mastrick.
The next dates for the market to visit are 25/26/27 July, and 26/27/28 September, followed by the Christmas event on 28/29/30 November, which coincides with the St Andrews Day celebrations.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
