Preston (Friargate) Makers Market
Sat 26 Sep

Preston (Friargate) Makers Market

Presented by The Makers Market at Preston (Friargate) Makers Market, Preston, Lancashire.

Preston Friargate Makers Market takes place on Friargate — one of Preston's principal pedestrianised shopping streets — bringing The Makers Market's programme of artisan traders, food producers and live music to a central city location that connects the Flag Market area to the wider city centre retail core. It's a complementary market to the Flag Market event, with Friargate's more enclosed street-scale setting giving the market a different character.

Expect the full Makers Market offer: handcrafted jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homeware, gifts and art alongside artisan food and drink — local bakers, hot food traders, speciality produce and independent drinks makers. Live music adds energy to Friargate throughout the market day, making the street more animated and enjoyable than a typical city centre pedestrian thoroughfare.

Free to attend monthly in central Preston, Friargate Makers Market benefits from the same outstanding rail connectivity as the Flag Market — Preston station is a short walk away, with direct trains from Manchester, Blackpool, Lancaster and London. A market that makes good use of a city centre street and gives independent makers a strong, central location.

Regular traders here

Some of the independent makers and producers you'll regularly find trading at this event.

Bowes Dairy Produce
Bowes Dairy Produce
Cheese & Dairy

Family-run dairy and fine foods business based in Fulwood, Preston, delivering fresh milk in reusable glass bottles plus award-winning Lancashire cheeses from JJ Sandham, cheese gift hampers and local produce since 1998.

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Daddy Cools Chilli Sauce
Daddy Cools Chilli Sauce
Hot Food

Glossop-based, Great Taste Award-winning maker of chilli sauces, jams, chutneys and pickles handmade in Derbyshire.

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Make a day of it, indie style

Independent businesses near Preston worth knowing about before or after the event.

Black Horse Photo: Black Horse
Pub ££
Black Horse
4.6(1,191)
🕐 12:00 – 11:00 PM

Grade II listed Victorian heritage pub on Friargate with an outstanding range of real ales, original period interiors and a warm welcome from knowledgeable staff. A CAMRA award-winner and one of the finest traditional pubs in the North West — the real fire and pork pie selection seal the deal.

“My favourite pub. Great building, great beers, great staff. Real fire and pork pie selection is a nice change.”
Brian
📍 166 Friargate, Preston
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Coco's Soul Food Photo: William Matthews
Restaurant £
Coco's Soul Food
4.7(1,639)
🕐 Closed

Brilliant independent soul food restaurant on Friargate serving Caribbean, American and Latin-inspired dishes — jerk chicken, curried goat, buttermilk fried chicken and legendary mac and cheese. Massive portions, great prices and a loyal following that keeps coming back. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

“I recently visited Coco's Soul Food. The service was good. The elderly gentleman upstairs was attentive, friendly, and clearly cared about the customers, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the food told a very different story. The “jerk chicken” was not jerk chicken. I’m genuinely not ...”
Global With DS (부인)
📍 88 Friargate, Preston
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All Hopes, No Promises Photo: All Hopes No Promises PR1
Pub
All Hopes, No Promises
4.7(454)
🕐 12:00 – 6:00 PM

A brilliant independent bar and burger spot on St Wilfrid Street with a genuine personality — video games, great draught beers, excellent cocktails and what many consider the best burger in Preston. Dog-friendly, relaxed and the kind of place that earns fierce loyalty from regulars.

“A fantastic alternative to chain type burger restaurants. We had lunch and the pricing was straightforward and offered great value at £8. One of my colleagues has an allergy,the Chef spoke to him and was able to provide a meal that was perfect for him. The two staff members were attentive and ...”
Dougie Smith
📍 15-16 St Wilfrid Street, Preston
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NYTCLAS Photo: NYTCLAS
Bar
NYTCLAS
4.7(40)

A progressive cocktail bar and Detroit-style pizza parlour in the Market Street Social courtyard, bringing a speakeasy vibe with a warm northern welcome. Boundary-pushing cocktails, deep dish pizzas with a beautifully blistered crust and a lovely outdoor courtyard space. One of Preston's most exciting recent openings — open Sundays.

“I recently had a birthday party at Nytclas and had a really positive experience. The venue is beautiful and full of character. The outside space is especially lovely, unique, nicely lit and it adds something a bit different compared to other spaces in Preston. Inside, there are nicely decorated ...”
Lauren Holmes
📍 133 Market St W, Preston
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About this area

Friargate is one of Preston's principal pedestrianised shopping streets, running north-south through the western part of the city centre and connecting the older civic core around the Flag Market to the wider retail area. The street takes its name from the Franciscan friary that occupied the area in the medieval period, and it has been a significant commercial street in Preston for centuries.

The western part of Preston city centre, in which Friargate sits, connects to the historic Winckley Square conservation area — a remarkable Georgian residential square surrounded by Georgian townhouses, solicitors' offices and restaurants that gives this part of the city a distinctly different character from the busier retail core. The area has a good concentration of independent cafes and bars.

Preston city centre is compact and walkable, with Friargate connecting easily to the Flag Market, the bus station, the Harris Museum and the Fishergate shopping area all within a few minutes' walk. Preston railway station, on the West Coast Main Line, is about ten minutes' walk from Friargate and provides excellent national rail connections.

Places to go, see and play

Hollywood Bowl Photo: Hollywood Bowl Preston
Attraction
Hollywood Bowl
4.5(125)
🕐 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Ten-pin bowling, pool tables and a full arcade at the Animate complex, with a bar and food menu making it easy to turn a game of bowling into a full evening. Consistently well-reviewed for both the facilities and the family-friendly atmosphere.

“Its really a place for some undisturbed fun. Pool, slot machines, virtual games, all in mint condition. The whole place is really clean and tidy. Staff members are kind and helpful, the burgers are delicious. Ideal for couples or the whole family.”
Peter Erdelyi
📍 Unit 1-9, Animate, Tenterfield Street, Preston
The Arc Cinema Photo: The Arc Cinema - Preston
Cinema
The Arc Cinema
4.5(295)
🕐 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Preston's independent cinema in the Animate building, with comfortable reclining seats, reasonable ticket prices and a great range of current films. Free or heavily discounted parking with each visit — a proper cinema experience without the multiplex prices.

“Wonderful cinema with recliner seats, plenty movie and snack options and wonderful staff. It’s always clean and tickets are very reasonably priced.”
Maria Olszta
📍 Animate, Tenterfield Street, Preston
Harris Museum Photo: Ty
Museum
Harris Museum
4.5(1,714)
🕐 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Preston's landmark cultural hub, housed in a magnificent Grade I-listed neoclassical building on Market Square. Free to enter, The Harris brings together art, history, fashion and literature under one roof — from a 13,500-year-old elk skeleton to contemporary exhibitions from nationally recognised artists. Recently reopened after a £19 million restoration, with a new café, library spaces and rotating community galleries.

“Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the newly renovated museum and art gallery. It was a delightful experience to explore the updated spaces. The exhibits offered a range of interesting pieces, from paintings to miniatures and relics. I particularly appreciated the clean and well-maintained ...”
Juris Savostijanovs
📍 Market Square, Preston

Places to eat, drink and party

Billie Rox Photo: Billie Rox
Bar
Billie Rox
3.7(34)
🕐 12:00 – 10:00 PM

Entertainment bar on Friargate with darts, shuffleboard, pool, axe throwing and beer pong alongside a good drinks selection. Open Thursday to Sunday — a lively and social option for an evening of competitive fun before or after the market.

“Visited for the first time yesterday, staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Only did pool this time but booking on walk-in was easy and other people appeared to book darts, shuffleboard etc on walk-in without issue too. Drinks affordable, fantastic decor and atmosphere. Toilets not the nice...”
Charlotte Fletcher
📍 Friargate, Preston
Mowgli Street Food Photo: Delta Charlie
Restaurant ££
Mowgli Street Food
4.5(1,486)
🕐 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM

Acclaimed Indian street food restaurant in Miller Arcade, serving dishes inspired by the home cooking of urban India — chat bombs, tiffin plates, sharing curries and the famous spicy mango margarita. One of the most highly rated restaurants in Preston and well worth a visit.

“Love this place. Visited in December 2025 for the first time and returned 1st Feb. The second visit proved that the food and service are excellent as standard. The atmosphere is delightful and the spicy mango margarita is a must have. There’s a great selection of delicious food that can be ord...”
MrDamien1982
📍 1-4 Church Street, Miller Arcade, Preston
Pizza Express Photo: PizzaExpress
Restaurant ££
Pizza Express
4.1(692)
🕐 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

The classic Italian pizza restaurant on Winckley Street, with its trademark dough balls, wood-fired pizzas and a reliable menu of pasta and salads. A familiar and well-executed option in an attractive Winckley Square setting.

“American Hot 🔥 pizza - pepperoni 🍕 it’s packed with paprika for a deep,Smokey flavour. Here it’s teamed up with mozzarella, tomato and a (Both) choice of hot green or jalapeño peppers. Bottle of Peroni 620ml (pint) How much £24.50 👀 I know City centre”
Terry Tommony
📍 14-15 Winckley Street, Preston
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Places to Stay near Preston

Make a weekend of it — find hotels, B&Bs and guest houses close to this market.