THE popular sunset food market is moving from Bathers Beach, following complaints from harbour restaurant owners that it cripples their nightly takings by 20 per cent.
The weekend market, which attracts up to 5000 people a night and has been going for four years, will now be held at South Beach, in-between the cafe and the sailing club.
Eddie Watling, coordinator for the fishing boat harbour traders’ association, says he’d met with Fremantle city council to express traders’ concerns.
“Customers were booking a table and then coming down to eat, but they couldn’t get parked, so they were cancelling and driving away,” he says.
“Aside from parking issues, people going to the markets were also using toilet facilities belonging to the restaurants. A lot of members from the traders’ association were telling me that on average their takings were down 20 per cent on the night the markets were on.
“The association was supportive of activating Bathers Beach, but as time went on it became clear it was impacting our trade.”
Market operator Georgie Adeane concedes traders’ grievances have been a factor in the move, but maintains the markets have simply outgrown the small West End Beach.
“We’ve been talking about moving to South Beach for the past two years,” she says.
“Lack of parking has become an issue at Bathers and council officers have expressed safety concerns with the number of people attending.
“Currently we have around 25 stalls, but at our new site we will be able to increase that to around 40 and have a wider range of food stalls and entertainment.
“We looked at having markets at both locations, but it would have been too much work.”
The Herald understands market customers could originally use toilet facilities at the old Fisherman’s Co-op building, but since that place was relaunched as Bathers Beach House, liquor licensing laws meant toilets could only be used by its paying customers.
Mayor Brad Pettitt says the council will support the move.
“I loved the market where it is, but talking to Georgie it’s clear it needed more space,” he says.
“I’m sure it will be a great success at South Beach.”
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
