Park Lane Market comes to city centre as founder calls on Glaswegians to shop local this Christmas

Glasgow's Park Lane Market, one of the city's most popular and longest-running markets, is set to host its biggest ever Christmas event on November 30th at The Social Hub Glasgow.

Article Source: The Social Hub
Last Updated: 27 November 2024 11:09

For seven years, the market has been a fixture in the city’s southside, taking place on the first and last Sunday of each month. It has drawn more than 250,000 visitors and hosted a diverse mix of over 1,000 traders, offering everything from arts and crafts to vintage clothes, furniture, and antiques.

During this time, the area has undergone a transformation. In recent years, both Strathbungo and Shawlands have been named amongst the “coolest in the world” by Time Out.

Co-founder Harry Olorunda, originally from London, believes the market has been a catalyst for a movement south of the river – and the same could happen in the city centre.

Harry said: “The southside has boomed in the last seven years. The area is a juggernaut. I’d like to think we’ve played a part in that.

“Park Lane Market is at the intersection of the Southside, where Strathbungo, Shawlands, and Battlefield meet. Growing up in London, I watched as areas popped up and became the place to be – it’s all because of people connecting, believing, and doing.

“Something is happening in the city centre now. It’s changed a lot in recent years, and it needs to keep evolving. The introduction of The Social Hub has breathed new life into it, and we can help bring even more new communities into the city centre and help it be one of the coolest places to be.”

“I used to go to Broadway Market in Tooting with my mum, and I loved the hustle and bustle. It excited me. I found it absolutely fascinating. That feeling in my bones made me want to create something similar in the Southside.

“Apart from the Barras, Park Lane has probably the most staying power of any market in Glasgow. We made the dream a reality.”

Now an ambassador for The Social Hub, the hybrid-hospitality venue in Candleriggs offering co-working, hotel services, and student accommodation, Harry attributes Park Lane’s success to putting other people first.

The 36-year-old said: “The market has long been an ecosystem for the Southside, providing a platform for businesses to launch and grow. It’s not about money. It’s about creating a vibe, building a community, supporting local, and giving more than you take. We do it because we love it. This is a community growth exercise.

“I’m so proud of the businesses that started here and have used it as a launchpad, whether that’s to sell internationally or open their own store. Without the traders, there’s no market – so we put them first. We haven’t raised our prices in seven years; it’s still £30 for a stall. If it rained and nobody came, we used to give traders the stall for free. If the traders stop coming, we’ve got nothing, so we put them first, always.”

As well as bringing its carefully curated mix of arts, crafts, Christmas cards, and thrift to The Social Hub this festive season, it will also bring something it’s become most known for — its tunes.

“Music is a big part of it — we always play 90s music,” Harry continued.
“You’ll hear ‘Torn’ by Natalie Imbruglia, ‘Just a Girl’ by No Doubt, ‘Mmmbop’ by Hanson. Our biggest audience is Gen Z and Millennials, and they love 90s music, whether it’s Gen Zs who dress like they’re in the 90s or Millennials who grew up with it. People love it.”

The market invests all its profits back into the space at Park Lane — a location once home to the famed Park Lane Studios, which hosted recording sessions for the likes of Del Amitri, Primal Scream, and Texas. The goal is to transform it into an ever-evolving community hub.

Harry co-founded the market with Lewis Andrew, a multi-instrumentalist and former member of the Scottish indie-folk band Kassidy.

“It all started with us chatting about how to improve the area. We share a passion for making Glasgow as good as it can be. It just goes to show; if you don’t talk, nothing happens,” Harry said.

“We’ve been able to make it happen because it’s a private space, so there’s no red tape, no bureaucracy, no naysaying – we’ve just been able to go, go, go.

“I got talking to the team at The Social Hub, and we realised we share the same values, had the same goals. We both want to make things happen, and there’s a need for something fresh – a new kind of Christmas market in the city centre. That’s why this partnership is such a good fit. Who knows, maybe they’ll help us take Park Lane around Europe one day?”

This market will also feature Second Hand Wonderland – a curated preowned and vintage market.

“It’s for folk who can’t be bothered with Vestiaire Collective, eBay, Depop or Vinted”, said founder Ellis McCloskey.

“There isn’t anything else like it in Glasgow. It’s so rewarding to be able to work together to create a more sustainable shopping experience, helping people learn how important second-hand shopping and shopping local is for our planet, community, and our pockets.”

Park Lane Market at The Social Hub will take place this Saturday, 30 November from 11am to 4pm.

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