Meet the traders at the heart of our town

FISHMONGER Darren Hamer is devoted to the creatures of the deep.

So much so that he travels to Fleetwood four times a week to buy the freshest catch for his customers.

“I also go to the fish market in Manchester four times a week too,” said Darren, who has been based at Bolton Market for 30 years.

His stall, D.P. Hamer, offers an amazing 70 varieties of fish and seafood, including shark, octopus and conger eel.

H e also imports red snapper from the Caribbean and the bizarrely-named Bombay duck fish!

“Sea bass is my most popular product,” he said. “It’s cheap and tasty.”

He employs four members of staff and, as well as fish and seafood, he also sells meat.

“I do all of my own buying so I can ensure what we sell is all top quality. It also means I can give my customers the best possible deal.

“I have a very good relationship with my customers. They don’t just come for the variety of products we sell, they come for the banter.

“If you give people what they want they know they can trust you and they’ll keep coming back.

“All my staff have skills and a good knowledge and I think that is very important to customers too.”

Although he regards Bolton market as “one of the best markets going”, he says trade has suffered since the nearby bus station was moved.

“There was talk of making the site of the old station a car park - which would be beneficial for business - but we’re still waiting to hear from Bolton Council about that.”

SYED Atif runs Halal Butchers, the only one in the market.

Although it caters for Bolton’s Muslim community, rather surprisingly it is non-Muslims who make up the bulk of Syed’s customers.

“Only about 30 per cent of my customers are Muslims,” he said.

Beef is the most popular product he sells, closely followed by a wide selection of offal - including that historic northern favourite, tripe.

“The halal method of slaughter improves the taste of the meat and I think that could be why business is so good.

“All our meat is fresh and none of it is frozen.”

Customers come from as far afield as Blackpool and Liverpool to shop at the stall.

“Variety and price is an important part of our success,” said Syed, who employs five members of staff.

“Bolton Market is a good place to do business.”

STEPHEN Latham is possibly the longest established trader on the market, having been at Bannister’s Fruit and Veg for half a century.

“I started when I was 21 and I’m still ere all these years later,” he laughed.

One of the reasons he believes the business has survived for so long is because customers can see exactly what they are getting.

“It’s all fresh produce - I travel to farms across Lancashire three times a week to choose it myself,” he said.

He has five employees and he ensures that, like himself, they are all polite, friendly and understand the importance of giving a personal service.

“They really look after the customers,” he said.

“Some customers have been coming for as long as I’ve been here, and now their children and grandchildren are also customers.”