The weather was against us. The Shields Ferry wasn’t running, Metro services were disrupted and the football was kicking off that afternoon. We went ahead with our Autumn Vintage Market — and North Shields showed up.
Some event days begin with everything on their side.
This was not one of them.
By Sunday morning, the weather had taken a turn, travelling to the Fish Quay was far from straightforward and plenty of people had other plans for the afternoon.
After months of preparation, applications, floor plans, music programming and promotion, we had a decision to make.
We went ahead.
And, honestly — what a day it became.
From the first visitors arriving at Salt Market Social, there was a warmth in the building that more than made up for the weather outside. People came to browse, listen, eat, catch up, discover something new and support independent traders.
It was a reminder that these markets are about much more than the things on the tables. They are about people coming together.
An Early Start on the Fish Quay
Long before the doors opened, our traders were arriving with boxes of carefully sourced stock, rails of vintage clothing, tables, ceramics, glassware, artwork, collectables and unusual objects.
From 7.30am, Salt Market Social began its transformation.
Stalls took shape across both floors. Clothes were steamed and arranged, glassware carefully unpacked, lights switched on and displays adjusted. Downstairs, musicians carried in instruments and sound equipment while our food traders prepared for the day ahead.
By 10am, the former industrial building was alive with colour, conversation, music and anticipation.
Two Floors of Vintage, Antiques and Independent Makers
Our Autumn Edition brought together an incredible variety of traders.
Visitors could explore vintage fashion, football shirts, jewellery, homeware, ceramics, antiques, furniture, collectables, artwork, curiosities, decorative pieces and plenty of objects that were almost impossible to categorise.
Upstairs, we welcomed:
Respectfully Vintage, Things We Like, S A Restorers, Vintage Room by Room, Julie Haw, Pretty Doolally, Carina Rodney, Rindill Makes, Michelle Handyside, Three Joyful Things, Pre-Loved & Pretty, Mim Robson Artist, Between the Lines, Josie Starr Vintage, Good Onya Vintage, TLS Vintage, Antique & Decor, Sha La La Vintage, Beautiful This n That, Vardy & Sons, 1892 Football Shirts, Mishskis Vintage, Made & Found, Glimmer Vintage UK, Lost & ProFound, Adah Taurean-Black, Lazy One Offs and Stacey.
Downstairs, visitors discovered:
Sweet Patisserie, Quay Collectables, Gail Tremble-Wilson, Virtual Vintage Co, Isabel Finlay, Vicci McGurk, Tune Army, North Coast Clothing, Art From the Lens and Click in History, The Jungle Photo Parlour by Harriott & Solomon, Flea Circus and Funky Finds.
Thank you to every trader who arrived early, created a brilliant display and welcomed visitors so warmly.
The friendliness of our traders is mentioned repeatedly in the feedback we receive. A smile, a hello or a conversation about the story behind an object can completely change somebody’s experience of a market.
You all helped make the building feel welcoming.
Displays That Became Experiences
Some stalls invite you to browse. Others stop you in your tracks.
Lost & ProFound created our upstairs feature display, turning the space into a striking focal point filled with objects, stories and personality.
Downstairs, Jim Gregory and the Flea Circus team brought a wonderfully layered collection of mid-century design, antiques, curiosities, vinyl, art, plants, ceramics and unexpected finds.
Anyone familiar with Jim and Flea Circus will know that calling it a “stall” never quite does it justice. The display was an experience in itself, rewarding anyone who stopped for a closer look.
The Jungle Returned to North Shields
One of the most distinctive experiences of the day was The Jungle Photo Parlour by Harriott & Solomon.
Inspired by the legendary Jungle venue on North Shields Fish Quay, the specially created set transported visitors back to the 1970s through costumes, styling, photography and a wonderfully theatrical atmosphere.
It was playful, nostalgic and completely different — exactly the kind of creative experience we want people to stumble across at our markets.
Thank you to Mark, Emma and Solomon for bringing the idea to life and giving visitors the opportunity to become part of the story.
Play the Market
The Loading Bay downstairs became our live music space for the day as we launched the first full Play the Market programme.
Created by I Love North Shields with Laura Rosierse of LLIVELY Music, the programme gave musicians and performers from across the North East their own dedicated stage alongside the market.
The complete line-up was:
- 10am — Jimi Handtrix Puppet
- 10.40am — Mooshi
- 11.20am — Simon Taylor
- 12 noon — Sam Bennett
- 12.40pm — Oliver Hunt
- 1.20pm — Sam Shields
- 3pm — Jo McGarry
- 3.40pm — Callum McLean
- 4.20pm — Anna Lou
- 5pm — Oliver Thomas Armstrong
- 5.30pm — McCormick
Each performer brought something different to the day.
The programme carried us from the opening of the market through to the early evening, giving visitors a reason to stay a little longer, discover somebody they had not heard before and experience independent live music in a relaxed setting.
A very special thank-you must go to Laura Rosierse and LLIVELY Music for helping us shape the programme and for the lovely music that kept the atmosphere flowing between performances.
Thank you also to Steve Willis, who oversaw the live sound and worked throughout the day to help every artist sound their best.
Most importantly, thank you to every musician who stepped onto our stage and shared their work with us. Live performance requires courage, preparation and trust. We are genuinely grateful that you chose to be part of this first full programme.
Food Worth Braving the Weather For
A good market day needs good food — particularly when the weather calls for something warm and comforting.
Peace of Pie joined us with pies that were genuinely out of this world, providing exactly the kind of hearty food the day required.
Harvey’s North Shields brought wonderful Indian food, filling the venue with beautiful aromas and giving visitors another reason to pause, eat and stay for the afternoon.
Emma Carlton and Sweet Patisserie brought beautifully made patisserie and sweet treats to the market, adding something very special for anyone looking for an afternoon indulgence.
Alongside the food traders, the Salt Market Social bar kept drinks flowing throughout the market and into the Vintage Social.
Thank you to everyone who fed us, looked after our visitors and added another layer to the experience.
Why Supporting Independent Matters
Every purchase made at the market had an impact.
It supported an independent trader, artist, collector, food business or creative person. It helped keep a small business moving forward and allowed somebody to continue doing something they care about.
Buying vintage also keeps existing objects in circulation.
A jacket worn again, a piece of furniture restored, a forgotten ornament rediscovered or an old record taken home means fewer things being discarded and fewer new resources being used.
Vintage brings together individuality, history, affordability and sustainability — but it also creates conversations. Every object has already lived a life, and often the trader behind the stall knows something about where it came from.
That exchange between trader and visitor is part of what makes an independent market so different from shopping online or walking into a chain store.
Thank You, Salt Market Social
We are incredibly grateful to Salt Market Social for once again giving the market a home.
It takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes to host an event across two floors. Loading, lift access, tables, bars, food areas, sound, safety and visitor flow all need to come together before the doors can open.
Thank you to the entire venue team for your patience, flexibility and support — and for helping us turn the building into somewhere traders, musicians, food businesses and visitors can meet.
Salt Market Social’s industrial character and its location on North Shields Fish Quay make it a very special setting for the market.
And Thank You to North Shields
The weather could have kept people at home.
The lack of a ferry and the disruption to Metro services could have made the journey feel too difficult. The football could easily have drawn people elsewhere.
But people still came.
They arrived in coats, shook off the weather, explored both floors, listened to the musicians, bought from independent traders, enjoyed the food and stayed for the atmosphere.
To everybody who made the effort to join us: thank you.
Thank you for choosing to spend your Sunday with independent traders.
Thank you for listening to emerging musicians.
Thank you for buying preloved, vintage, handmade and locally produced goods.
Thank you for talking to the people behind the stalls.
And thank you for continuing to believe in what we are building together.
The Autumn Edition reminded us that a successful market is not simply measured by perfect weather or convenient travel.
It is measured by the atmosphere in the room, the connections made, the opportunities created and the people who decide to show up for one another.
Against the odds, North Shields did exactly that.
And boy, what a day it was.
What’s Next?
We are already curating our remaining 2026 markets:
Sunday 29 November 2026
Coastal Vintage Market
Grab your free tickets here!
Sunday 20 December 2026
Festive Vintage Market
Grab your free tickets here!
We have also announced ten more I Love North Shields Vintage Market dates for 2027, each with its own curated collection of traders, food, music and creative experiences.
View all upcoming I Love North Shields events
Come for the vintage. Stay for the music, food and people.
We cannot wait to welcome you back.
