The Frome Independent

We strongly suggest that you visit the market before making an application. This is the best way to see what type of stalls we have, what we might be looking for in terms of variety and quality, to get a feel of the market overall and familiarise yourself with the layout.

During your visit, please pay particular attention to any traders who might have similar products to your own and bear this in mind when you apply. For instance, if we have an established trader selling chocolate brownies it would be unlikely that we would give a pitch to another brownie seller. However, you would still be welcome to apply as traders do come and go and the situation can change as the season goes on.

We operate a rolling programme of assessment and pitch allocation throughout the year so there is no ‘deadline’ to applying. However we do book markets up to 3 months in advance so there will not necessarily be space available if you are requesting dates that are coming soon after you apply.

We are a curated market so submitting an application does not guarantee you a pitch. You should receive an automatic acknowledgment that your application has been received. We do receive a lot of applications throughout the year, so please bear with us as it can take some time for our small team to properly assess each application.

You can find our assessment criteria here: Criteria & Guidelines

We will write to you again to let you know if your application has been successful or not. If you have been successful we will add you to the list of potential traders for each of the months you requested on your application.

We tend to look at markets in seasonal batches - for example, around the end of January we will look at the spring markets of March/April/May and try to fit in as many successful traders as we can into these three months.

We will then write to all traders to let them know if, a) they have been allocated a pitch for March/April/May OR b) if they are on the reserve list for March/April/May.

We have an overview of the entire market across a particular season and we allocate pitches with the aim of providing both variety for visitors and consistency for traders. It is a challenge!

There are many more successful applicants than pitches available. It is just not possible to allocate all successful traders a pitch for every market they have requested so we operate a reserve list for every market. We do get cancellations and other movements as market day approaches so there is often the opportunity to take up traders from the reserve list.

No, your application will be ready for consideration for all the dates you requested. When we get to allocating pitches for those dates we will let you know if you have a pitch or a place on the reserve list.

If you applied for a market after the pitches were allocated you will be on the reserve list for that market.

IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR TRADERS TO GET BACK IN TOUCH AFTER APPLYING – UNLESS YOU WISH TO CANCEL ANY OF THE DATES YOU INITIALLY REQUESTED OR UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION IN SOME WAY.

No, we assess applications and allocate pitches on a rolling programme all year so you can apply at any time throughout the season. Please bear in mind that when we allocate pitches we try to give traders as much notice as we can – for example, pitches for the October market will be allocated during the summer. Therefore, if you apply for the October market after summer then it is likely that all the pitches will have been filled. We will still assess your application of course but if you are successful we would only be able to offer you a place on the reserve list.

Please allow plenty of time for your application to be assessed for the dates that you are requesting. We advise that if you apply less than 10 days before a market then it is unlikely that your application will be assessed in time to be considered for a pitch.

Please read the Criteria & Guidelines. Here you will find our assessment criteria, pitch size information, prices, trader requirements and a link to the application form.

Applicants under the age of 16 must have the consent of an adult before completing the application form and, when trading, must be accompanied by an adult on market day.

No, we do try to keep traders within the same area that they have traded in before but with different traders coming along each month is it not always possible to keep the same spot for a trader at each market they attend.

No, however we allocate pitches to traders with an overview of the entire market in mind and do not intend to create unfair competition between traders. Therefore we would not place traders selling similar items in close proximity to each other – or even place them at the same market. We aim to provide as much variety to visitors as we can and ensure an even range of product type throughout the market.

By submitting your application you are asking to be considered for all the dates you have indicated on your form. We will then undertake a considerable amount of administration work to process your application, assess it and enter you into the list for consideration for each market date you have requested.

If we offer you a pitch for a market date and you subsequently cancel then there may be a fee to pay to cover the admin costs already incurred, as follows:

Cancellation with less than 5 working days notice of market day (or no-show) = full pitch fee.

Yes, all suitcase traders are provided with a free table for their pitch. This will either be set up for you when you arrive or stacked nearby so that you can collect it.

We also have wooden chocks available so you can ensure your table is level and stable.

We have various tables that we provide for suitcase traders. They are approx 80cm. Suitcase pitches must take up a maximum 1m square and any additional stock you bring must fit under your table.

No, we are an outdoor market and the areas where we have suitcase stalls are not suitable for any cover structures. Traders may bring their own cover if they are worried about the weather HOWEVER, any cover you bring must not exceed the size of a small garden parasol or golf umbrella. Your cover must also be easily collapsible and removable. Suitcase traders may also wish to consider bringing some clear polythene sheets to protect their stall from a passing shower.

Not if you don’t want to! Traders in this area bring suitcases, vintage trunks and even prams, or many set up a product display straight onto the table.

PLEASE NOTE Traders on Catherine Hill must allow for potential access by the emergency services so your display must be constructed in such a way that it can be lifted and carried to one side very quickly. Any cover you bring must be easily collapsible.

The idea of using a suitcase is that you will be able to close it up and move your display very easily – although of course if you have another type of display that does the same thing that is perfectly fine.

Your pitch will be under one of our modular covers or parasols and there is space for a standard 1.8m x 0.75m trestle table with room for you to stand behind and store stock under the table.

If you are allocated a pitch on Justice Lane, you will need to provide your own cover, ie a commercial grade 3m x 3m gazebo, with weights of at least 10kg for each corner. You must bring adequate weights for your gazebo. Any covers that are deemed unsafe and inadequately weighted will be removed.

There is space for a standard 1.8m x 0.75m trestle table on your pitch. You can either bring your own or hire one from us for £10. You will be invoiced for your table and it will either be ready on our pitch or stacked nearby for you to collect. Please DO NOT take a table unless you have requested one and been invoiced as tables are allocated to specific traders.

Your pitch will be under one of our modular covers or parasols and there is space for a standard 1.8m x 0.75m trestle table with room for you to stand behind and store stock under the table.

There is space for a standard 1.8m x 0.75m trestle table on your pitch. You can either bring your own or hire one from us for £10. You will be invoiced for your table and it will either be ready on our pitch or stacked nearby for you to collect. Please DO NOT take a table unless you have requested one and been invoiced as tables are allocated to specific traders.

You will be allocated a space which is approx 3m WIDE and 4.3 metres DEEP.

You may bring your own commercial grade gazebo if you would like cover – this must be 3m x 3m. Traders wishing to bring a larger cover must have the express permission of the Market Team in advance of market day. You must bring adequate WEIGHTS for your gazebo – minimum of 10kg for each corner. Any covers that are deemed unsafe and inadequately weighted will be removed.

Traders in this section may bring their own gazebo if you would like cover – this must be 3m x 3m and include weights of min 10kg for each corner. Traders wishing to bring a larger cover must have the express permission of the Market Team in advance of market day.

All traders who are using a gazebo MUST bring adequate weights with them on the day – min 10kg for each corner. Our team will be inspecting gazebos throughout market day and any that are deemed to be unsafe will be removed.

You will be allocated a space which is approx 3m WIDE and 4.3 metres DEEP.

You may bring your own commercial grade 3m x 3m gazebo if you would like cover – this must be 3m x 3m and include weights of min 10kg for each corner. Traders wishing to bring a larger cover must have the express permission of the Market Team in advance of market day.

You must bring adequate WEIGHTS for your gazebo – minimum of 10kg for each corner. Any covers that are deemed unsafe and inadequately weighted will be removed.

Traders in this section may bring their own gazebo or cover which must not exceed 3m x 3m and include weights of min 10kg for each corner. Traders wishing to bring a larger cover must have the express permission of the Market Team in advance of market day.
All traders who are using a gazebo or cover MUST bring adequate weights with them on the day – min 10kg for each corner. Our team will be inspecting gazebos and covers throughout market day and any that are deemed to be unsafe will be removed.

Yes, all alcohol traders must apply for their own TEN to cover their stall on market day. If we allocate a pitch for you please get in touch to get the postcode of the area you will be trading in so that you can enter this on your TEN application. We also ask that you prominently display signage (which we will provide) that instructs customers to consume off-sales in the vicinity of your stall.

All food traders must declare on their application that they have attained a minimum of Level 2 in Food Safety and which local authority they are registered with as a food business.

As a guide we say no more than 2kw for each trader but this is only a guide. Please state on your application what electrical equipment you intend to use and how many kilowatts you require. We will pass this information to our Safety Manager who will advise on if we have enough power for you to trade with us on a given month.

We have a very limited number of pitches where electric is available, so if you are able to trade without it, please let us know.

We are not able to permit generators anywhere on site.

We have very limited space in the areas we can have hot food/drink traders. Generally speaking, we can only provide a 3m x 3m space which is large enough for a standard gazebo. If your stall exceeds this size then it is unlikely that we can offer you a pitch – or you may have to wait longer as we look to reconfigure other areas of the market to fit you in.

Yes, please read the section in our Terms and Conditions that relates to Food Traders – there are guidelines that you must follow. Our Safety Manager will be checking all hot food/drink stalls on market day to ensure compliance.

Yes, it is part of your Terms and Conditions that all traders must remove all waste and any other items from their pitch at the end of the day. This includes clearing up any spillages.
You must not place your food waste, packaging or unsold stock in or alongside any of the public street bins or bins belonging to specific businesses in Frome. Our set up team will patrol the market area at the end of the day and will take photographs of any pitches that have not complied. That trader will not be allowed to trade again with The Frome Independent.

All traders must carry up to date Public Liability insurance of at least £5 million.

Yes, we are able to offer a limited number of first-time traders coverage under our insurance policy for a fee of £6 per trader per market. Note that this cover is for Public Liability ONLY and will not provide insurance for your stock or any staff you may employ. Please indicate in your application if you wish to be covered by our insurance.

No, our cover is for FIRST TIME TRADERS only. If you have traded with us on a previous occasion (within the same market year) then you must now provide your own Public Liability insurance cover of at least £5 million. EXCEPTION: Suitcase traders may come under our cover for each market they attend.

You’ll find our Terms and Conditions HERE. You MUST read and agreed to these as you submit your application.