In reading the reviews, I should clarify that I am reviewing the market, near the bus station, not Market Hall, which is a retail development in a different part of the town centre. Have been here a few times now and have to say that I am very impressed with the produce section of the market. The market is divided into three main sections: produce, meat/seafood, and clothing/linens/miscellaneous. There is also an area in the center of the market where you can grab a bite to eat or even get a drink. In this center area, you can also get toiletries, DVD/Video Games (or sell them), shoes, cards, habadashery, etc. I noticed on my last trip in, there was a place where you can buy specialty coffee, cupcakes, tapas, and various other ethnic food.
Once you know the lay out, it is fairly easy to get in and out with what you need, however, sometimes it is quite busy. In fact the day that I was buying some veg, I could barely move around because it was so packed. I thought with the weather the way it was, people would have stayed home... guess not! What I love about the produce area is 1) the produce looks fresh and vibrant and 2) they have a wider variety, specifically more "exotic" veg that you might not be able to find in the supermarkets. I did have a specific shopping list for my Filipino soup and happened to get most of the items on my list. I had to make a substitution for one item and had to forego one item, Daikon (Japanese White Radish) because they were huge and I only needed a small amount.
Around the edges of the produce area are some cafes, including a little pub in one corner. You could grab a bite to eat or have tea while you wait for someone else to do the shopping! If you go outside to the clothing area, you can fabric, bedding, and curtains as well. This was the part of the market that didn't seem to be as busy, but if you are in a pinch and don't want to go to multiple shops, you have the option.
Haven't really shopped the meat/seafood area, I think part of me is a little intimidated, but give me time as I think the low prices and the ability to get exactly the cut you want instead of having to buy a pre-packaged cut will lure me in. As I mentioned it is near the bus station and there is a car park and parking garage within walking distance of the market. The parking garage is free on Saturday and Sundays. And if for some reason you don't find what you were looking for at market, there are plenty of other shops nearby. I don't know if there are any stalls in the market that accept credit cards, so you may want to bring some cash with you. read more