It's home to some tasty food, quirky stalls and wonderful independent shops - and today, Bristol's St Nick's Market is celebrating a monumental 275 years since it first opened.
The market has played a huge role in Bristol life since it was officially unveiled on September 21, 1743, forming the traditional centre of market activity in the city ever since that very first day.
The opening day itself saw a huge civic procession take place throughout the city to mark the occasion, although it was another couple of years until the fruit and veg market at the back of the Exchange building on Corn Street was complete.
Since then, both the Exchange building and the market have undergone significant transformations, including a major programme of building works in 1872 and further alterations when the city valuer's department moved to the Exchange in 1907.
The history of The Exchange
The building which is now home to St Nick's has had a number of uses over the years - including, most interestingly, a period when it was one of the best-used concert venues in Bristol.
The Corn Exchange has always consisted of a number of different spaces, including a coffee house and tavern on either side of the Corn Street entrance when it first opened in the 18th century.
A major programme of building works in 1872 saw a roof installed over the Exchange's central court area and a new suite of offices built on the first floor, above the colonnades surrounding the court.
More alterations were then carried out during the early 1900s and from 1945 onwards, further improvements have included the replacement of the roof over the central court by a temporary roof at a lower level and the removal of the clock tower at the back of the building.
Despite being historically used as the centre of Bristol's market life, The Exchange was also once a hugely popular concert venue and hosted names such as The Rolling Stones, Cream and Spencer Davis during the mid-to-late 1960s.
Today, the building is of course the home of St Nick's Market and houses a number of Bristol City Council offices.
Bristol's Lord Mayor, Cllr Cleo Lake, said: "The Corn Exchange played a key part in building Bristol’s international trade relationships and was instrumental in generating the wealth of the city.
"Although the modern market is very different, it still has a central role in trading within Bristol, which is an incredible achievement."
A year of celebrations
Today (September 21) marks the first day in an important 12 months for St Nick's Market, which is celebrating its 275th anniversary by launching a huge heritage project at an event this lunchtime.
The ceremony at St Nick's saw Cllr Lake ring the market's bell which was previously rung to mark the start of each trading day.
This also signified the launch of a year of celebrations, events and activities called St Nick's 275, which will tell the story of the important part St Nick's Market has played throughout Bristol's history.
As part of the St Nicks 275 celebration, members of the public are being invited to share memories and experiences of the market, with a view of showcasing the social history of the market and producing an exhibition that will be displayed in the market later this year.
Cllr Lake added: "Today St Nicholas Market is home to more than 60 stalls and some traders have been working there for more than 40 years.
"It has a great reputation for the variety of food on offer, which really captures a positive essence of Bristol in terms of our diversity and international flavours.
"I am thrilled to be launching the St Nicks 275 celebration, and to celebrate the vibrant part the market plays within our city.”
