5 Ways to Make Lincoln's Cornhill Market Matter Again
Lincoln, my hometown, has been undergoing a regeneration over the past 30 years — starting with the University in 1996, then Brayford Wharf, and now a section of the town centre.
Cornhill had always been known as a rough area. Previous to 2018, as you walked through the area, you'd see a random Waterstones in the centre, with Electronics Boutique, an old games shop for you younger readers, to the right of it, and a McDonald's next to that. But if you walked down further, you'd see a market that had been going for decades, shops in a very tired state, and others that have long since departed, with buildings slowly rotting away.
One big aspect was Cornhill Market, which was housed within a building but also adjacent to the market of old. I remember going there as a kid in the mid-90s, with a sense of community, and plenty of shops that were great to visit.
So when plans to completely regenerate Cornhill in the mid-2010s, including the market, most were in favour, but there were some concerns about the markets. Now though, with the plans almost complete, Cornhill is bustling, with fantastic stores, restaurants, and even a cinema. The market was the last to be refurbished, and after several delays, it finally opened in May 2024. However, things seemed off.
Now, in 2025, plenty of stalls have left, citing high-rent costs, strange opening times of 4 days a week, and a lack of clear focus from the council. If you go to Trip Advisor, reviews aren't the most encouraging, with some saying it's a flop, despite what's been said in the media.
Every time Jolly and I walk in, it feels... clinical. No soft music playing, no friendly greets to draw in people for the amazing food being offered at some stalls. Instead, it's mostly for people using the public toilets or escaping the rain. Having spoken to a few in the market these past few weeks, I get told that there's a sense of bewilderment. This includes, "Why is it a Market when the majority of stalls serve food to eat?" and "The feeling of it being a community is long gone".
Lincoln City Council claims that it will "work hard to improve Cornhill Market" according to an article at the very ad-ridden and slow Lincolnshire Live site. But something needs to happen now. With this in mind, I've got five ideas in case they're struggling for some.
Pop Up Stalls
With stalls closing every month, the market is getting quieter by the week, so bringing in local businesses around Lincoln could make sense. Imagine this: a restaurant like Damon's or gaming bar Akēdo's upcoming Pizza spin-off could set up a stall for a few days, perhaps over a weekend, and drive business to the market and themselves. A rotating theme could be across a month of different local restaurants appearing at these pop-up stalls. But there's also an opportunity to take inspiration from Waterside Shopping Centre, found opposite Cornhill Market. There's a large section where random stalls appear to sell crafts, art, and more on some weekends. It would be good for Cornhill to draw an idea from that.
Themed Events
Indeed, diversity across the food stalls and others that offer watches and more is a great appeal to the market, but there's not been a consistent theme in which all of these stalls have taken part. The previous Cornhill Market, although very quiet at the best of times, had a sense of community, that everyone knew and helped each other. Lincoln is known to have events across the city that many businesses take part in — the Imps are a great example of that. But perhaps something that can celebrate the history of Cornhill and the surrounding area. Have this once a quarter so it can be a special occasion for both visitors and the stalls alike.
Children's Area
One thing that's missing in the centre of town is a children's area for parents to take a breather. With so much available space in Cornhill Market, I don't see why there shouldn't be, at the very least, a corner dedicated to children to have fun at. Southport Market is a great example of how it could be done. This could feature a couple of supervised arcade machines and consoles, a small play area, or both.
Workshops
Workshops feel like an easy win for the market, as they can tap into the 'community' side of the market that's hugely lacking as it stands. Currently, there are a few stalls that have an adjacent seating area beside them. It'd be great to see mini-events held where adults and kids can take part in crafting certain things, or even have tasting events. Beehive is a great example of hosting workshops. These could also tie into the themed events I mentioned earlier. This way, it could draw in interactivity and introduce visitors to foods and products they hadn't considered before.
Use the top section for events
I had no idea what the top section was until I went up. As you walk around Cornhill Market, you'll spot some stairs and a lift at the very back. For some reason, I was expecting an area that had a small coffee stand or something at least. Instead, it's a wide-open space with a smattering of tables and chairs as the above photo shows. What's more strange to me, is the absence of signs letting visitors know what this part is, and that you can go up there.
As I write this very paragraph, I'm sitting there now, being just Jolly and me in this section, and it feels incredibly underutilized. It could be a perfect place for events — from birthday parties, small conferences, and even workshops from my previous point. Some of the food stalls could even be involved, bringing out platters of their food for example. If I was in charge, I'd be looking at this section at the very first stage.
This new Cornhill Market feels like an afterthought - to quell the concerns of previous market traders but also as a showcase for potential future traders. Yet, almost a year on, the council seems to have squandered both of these aims.
Although I've listed five points, there's plenty more I could mention — a loyalty program, more comfortable seating, a dedicated website, opening in the evenings for special occasions, working with schools and local charities — the list goes on. But there's a lot of opportunity in this open space that feels like it's not being taken advantage of.
Despite some in the press thinking success is 'busier than it used to be', they need to walk in, smell the fresh hot dogs, and do something fast, otherwise Cornhill Market will be a missed opportunity — again.
Thanks for reading.
