An online business ready to meet its customers. A maker with a Christmas collection. An idea you’ve been thinking about for years. This November and December, you could give it a physical home at Common Ground in North Shields.

Since sharing our plans for Common Ground, we’ve heard from people who love the idea of joining us but aren’t ready to commit to a regular unit. Some already trade at weekend markets. Others are building businesses around another job, launching a collection or looking for somewhere to try something new.

You asked, and we listened. We’re now inviting applications for three pop-up units as a trial, with bookings of one or two weeks.

Common Ground opens on Friday 20 November 2026, bringing independent businesses into the former Wilko building at the Beacon Centre, just in time for the Christmas shopping season.

A space to make your idea happen

Our pop-up units offer the chance to create your own temporary shop within a growing community of independent traders.

Perhaps you sell online and want customers to see your work in person. Perhaps you’re a photographer looking to run portrait sessions, a repair specialist offering a temporary service, or a designer ready to introduce a new collection.

We’d love to hear ideas for art shops, specialist retail, vintage collections, handmade gifts, demonstrations and other businesses that would bring something interesting to the market.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. Tell us what you have in mind, what you would bring and what you would need to make it work.

How the pop-up booking works

Each standard pop-up unit is approximately 3m × 3m, giving you space to create a display and welcome customers.

The cost is £150 per week plus VAT, with a maximum booking of two consecutive weeks.

You choose which days you open within our Wednesday–Sunday trading week, from 8am–4pm. You might trade throughout the week or open only on Saturday and Sunday around other commitments.

The weekly price stays the same whichever days you choose. Please tell us your planned trading days when enquiring so we can coordinate bookings and share accurate information with visitors.

Payment is required upfront to secure an agreed booking.

More than somewhere to put a table

A pop-up unit gives you the opportunity to think about how your business could look and feel in its own space.

You can introduce customers to your products, explain how something is made, demonstrate a service and hear what people think. It’s also a chance to meet fellow traders and experience working within an indoor market.

For some businesses, that might help inform a future move into a regular unit. For others, a short seasonal visit may be exactly what they need.

Our regular units have a minimum three-month commitment. This trial creates a shorter opportunity for businesses that would benefit from a temporary presence.

Bringing something different to Common Ground

We’re carefully curating the pop-up programme alongside our regular traders. We want visitors to discover a varied mix, and we want the businesses joining us to have the opportunity to do well.

Applications will be considered according to what you offer, how it complements the existing trader mix and whether the space can meet your practical needs.

If your business falls into a similar category to an existing trader, tell us what makes your work distinctive. We’ll have an open conversation about whether there’s a suitable fit.

The two-week limit also gives different businesses the opportunity to take part and keeps something new coming through the market.

What about setup and leaving stock overnight?

Stock can remain in your unit overnight during your agreed booking, with the market gates locked when the space closes.

We’ll agree setup access and when you need to clear the unit as part of the booking arrangements. Please let us know about electrical equipment, display fittings or any other requirements before confirming your plans.

Apply for November or December

To enquire, email simmie@ilovenorthshields.com with the subject “Common Ground Pop-Up Enquiry”.

Please send:

• Your name and business name.
• A short description of what you would sell or offer.
• Clear photographs of your products, work or current setup.
• Your website and social media links, if available.
• Your preferred dates and whether you’d like one or two weeks.
• The days you would plan to open.
• Any equipment, power or other practical requirements.

We’ll review your idea, discuss availability and explain the booking process. Please wait until your application and dates have been agreed before paying or announcing your visit.

Come and find us

Common Ground opens Friday 20 November 2026.

Find us in the former Wilko building at the Beacon Shopping Centre, Bedford Street, North Shields, NE29 6QF.

We’re open Wednesday–Sunday, 8am–4pm, with our own Beacon Centre car park. North Shields Metro and Transport Hub are around a two-minute walk away, and the North Shields ferry landing is around ten minutes away on foot.

Dog friendly and wheelchair accessible, Common Ground is a place to browse, meet people and discover independent businesses in the heart of town.

Have an idea you’d like to try? Tell Simmie about it at simmie@ilovenorthshields.com.