Bilston’s newly redeveloped outdoor market will be officially marked with a free public celebration on Saturday 11 July, following an £8 million programme of works at the historic town centre site.
The Bilston Market Official Opening Celebration will take place at Bilston Outdoor Market in Bilston, Wolverhampton. City of Wolverhampton Council says the event is open to the public, with the new events space being used for the first time. A start time has not yet been stated in the source information.
For shoppers, traders and residents who have watched the market operate from its temporary High Street home during the works, the July event is the public marker for its return to a redesigned outdoor site.
New-look market returns before the celebration
The redevelopment is due to be completed by the end of June, with contractor Speller Metcalfe scheduled to formally hand the market back to City of Wolverhampton Council on Thursday 25 June.
The final trading day for the temporary outdoor market on the High Street is set for Monday 29 June. Traders are then expected to open for business in the new-look market on Thursday 2 July, the next market trading day.
The celebration on Saturday 11 July will come just over a week after trading resumes at the original outdoor market site. It is intended to officially mark the opening of the redeveloped Bilston Outdoor Market and the first use of its flexible events space.
What visitors can expect at Bilston Outdoor Market
The council says the market now includes a new canopy designed to give traders better protection from bad weather, along with easier access, upgraded toilets, enhanced stalls and new signage.
The scheme also includes a taxi drop-off point and improved public areas. The source information describes accessibility as improved, but does not give further detail on specific facilities.
Fruit and veg traders and general market traders are expected to be part of the renewed market offer. Julie Emery, of JD Produce, said she had enjoyed the time on the High Street but was excited to move to the “fabulous new market”, adding that the site was “looking great” and that traders had heard positive comments from people keen to visit when they return.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, described the opening as a milestone for Bilston and its historic market. He said the redevelopment had delivered a more modern and accessible space for traders and customers.
The practical picture
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Bilston Market Official Opening Celebration |
| Date | Saturday 11 July 2026 |
| Time | Not stated in the source information |
| Venue | Bilston Outdoor Market, Bilston, Wolverhampton |
| Entry | Free, open to the public |
| Organiser | City of Wolverhampton Council |
| Best for | Local residents, regular market shoppers, families and visitors interested in the reopened market |
Bilston Outdoor Market’s normal trading days are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The market opens between 8.30am and 4pm on those days.
The July celebration is separate from the first trading day back at the redeveloped site. Shoppers who want to see the new stalls as soon as trading resumes can visit from Thursday 2 July, while those who want the formal opening event should look to Saturday 11 July.
Part of wider investment in Bilston
More than £8 million has been invested in the market redevelopment through a combination of Government and council funding.
Councillor Qaiser Azeem, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resident Services, said the new market would offer customers a community shopping experience and provide traders with improved facilities. He also thanked outdoor and indoor traders for their support and patience during the works.
The council says the market project is the first phase of a wider multi-million-pound investment in Bilston. Further work referenced by the authority includes Black Country Route public realm improvements, the High Street Link scheme, the £20 million Pride in Place programme being developed with local residents, and construction of a new Health and Wellbeing facility next to the leisure centre.
Rob Lashford, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, said the works were nearing completion and that the team had worked with the council to create a space intended to support the local community.
The key dates now are Thursday 25 June for handover, Monday 29 June for the final temporary market trading day, Thursday 2 July for the first trading day in the redeveloped market, and Saturday 11 July for the official opening celebration.
Source: Wolverhampton Scraper
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on the City of Wolverhampton Council release and the event details supplied for the Bilston Market opening celebration.
- Checked the event date against the stated first use of the new events space on Saturday 11...
- Separated the first trading day, Thursday 2 July, from the official celebration date.
- Included the stated venue, entry status and organiser without adding unsupported booking o...
- Matched the redevelopment details to the council’s description of the new canopy, stalls...
- Source
- City of Wolverhampton Council
- Scope
- Bilston, Wolverhampton
- Updated
- 2026-06-04 21:18
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