Uxbridge Craft Market - September, 3rd Week 2010

Leon Coleman is the man behind Uxbridge Craft Market having run the event since March 1988. In those days The Pavilions Shopping Centre had just undergone a major refurbishment which included a purpose built indoor market square for use by the local Uxbridge Town Market and is open Thursdays to Saturdays. Keen to use these market facilities for other events the Pavilions Shopping Centre granted Leon Coleman a three month trial lease to run the new Wednesday Craft Market. And the rest is history – ‘Uxbridge Craft Market’ as it is now known has clocked up over 1200 market days.

Throughout this time Leon Coleman has been keen to offer trading opportunities to local arts and craft enterprises and many have grabbed the chance to build up their business whilst trading at the market. Today’s Uxbridge Craft Market traders fully reflect the diversity of those who have traded over the years. From new fledgling enterprises trying out their goods to established businesses with loyal and regular customers. Indeed full acknowledgment must go to today’s traders who support and participate at the market, week in week out.

Uxbridge Craft Market is also the place to see a wide range of activities. ‘The Uxbridge Artists in Residence’ group can be seen every Wednesday at the craft market and Leon Coleman has organised many workshops and projects for local schools in and around the Borough of Hillingdon.

Whilst things seem to change over the years only a few things are different at Uxbridge Craft Market. The shopping centre is now known as ‘The Mall Pavilions’ and Leon’s company is called ‘Leon Coleman Crafts Ltd’. Other than that the aims remain the same: to run a friendly market for local shoppers and provide good facilities for local arts and crafts enterprises.