Continental Market

Don't know your croissants from your crepes? Then get along to Burnley's biggest and best ever continental market next week and expand your tastebuds with the best that Europe has to offer.

Burnley town centre will come alive with the smells and taste of traditional food with traders from France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Greece, Russia and Finland making the long trip to East Lancashire.

The award winning continental market will be held in Burnley, along St James Street and Curzon Street on the pedestrianised area, from Thursday 2nd through to Saturday 4th July (9am-6pm) and in Padiham, on the town hall car park, on Sunday 5th July (10am-4pm)

Whilst this is the fourth year the event has been held, this year's event is bigger and better with a continental market company which has operated in many of the UK’s large town and cities. It's the result of hard work by Burnley Council officers to entice the market to Burnley.

Colin Hill, Burnley Council's head of markets who has organised the event, said: "This year's market really is going to be better than ever and the range of items has to be seen to be believed. It's promising to be a wonderful few days and it will really make the town centre come alive."

The market will feature some unique stalls such as Dutch plant stall operated by Dirk van de Wardt with his wonderful array of shrubs plants and bulbs. There will also be a guest appearance by the Ginger Bread House, stacked to the rafters with Belgian chocolates, designer cakes and traditional sweets and fudge.

Karl Heinz will be bringing his Schwenkgrille for shoppers to try his whopping Bratwurst sausage. In fact there are so many unique stalls it will be a shopper’s delight. Also from Holland will be Dick and Willy with their Dutch cheese, cakes and delicious waffles smothered in chocolate and cream.

From France too there will be a great election of olives, cheeses, sun dried tomatoes, anchovies, a fantastic baker with some wonderful fresh bread, baguettes, croissants, pain au chocolate baked fresh each day, a fantastic selection of dried sausage, and one of the best patisseries from Brittany you will ever see.

Travelling further afield on our food journey, If it's hot and spicy you like visit the stall of chef Bansil who is selling a great range of Indian foods to take home. Last but not least there is George Koumarides from Pila in Thessaloniki with his Greek deli where you can find some of the best Greek breads, taramasalata, humous, olives and stuffed vine leaves (dolmades).

On the non-food front there will be French designer clothing, scarves and hats, Polish amber jewellery as well as the oldest green amber, wooden artefacts, carvings and furniture from Kenya, pashminas, costume jewellery, leather bags from Paris and soaps from Marseille and tablewear and fresh lavender from Provence.

Also making a special appearance will be "Chief Germanimo" selling Peruvian knitwear, dream catchers, T-shirts and didgeridoos which he tunes to an old tribal dance.

All in all it promises to be an extremely diverse and interesting shopping experience well worth the visit.

For further comment and/or information please contact Colin Hill or Eugene Dennison at Burnley Council markets and town centre management on 01282 664654.