From coffee cups & canvas bags to dogs on leads and neighbours lingering in the sunshine, Eastbourne Farmers Market has become far more than a monthly shop. Hannah Jordan, Head of Events Towner Eastbourne, and Miles Berkley both co-founders, reflect on the partnership, and shared sense of belonging that brought it to life.
How the idea took root
Miles: Take us back to the beginning. What first made Towner think a Farmers market could work here?
Hannah: The spark came from our former director, Joe Hill. He was always thinking about how else Towner could play a more visible role in the life of the town. The square outside is such a gift of a space; we just needed the right idea to make it feel truly alive.
Once we realised it could be a partnership, everything clicked. Towner could offer the setting, social media & online profile and support, while Luke from YOUR BID Eastbourne, and Miles and Andy from Eastbourne Food Partnership brought market know-how, logistics and deep local connections.
A partnership built around quality and community
Miles: It helped that everyone seemed to want the same thing: a market that felt carefully curated, welcoming and genuinely useful for both stallholders and visitors with a strong sense of community.
Hannah: Absolutely. It was always about more than just putting stalls in a square.
The delight of a market at home
Miles: What has delighted you most?
Hannah: The warmth of the response. On a sunny market day, when the plaza is full and people are lingering, it feels as though the space was waiting for this all along.
Miles: Meeting the producers has been a joy too. You feel the passion, labour, and craft behind every loaf, bottle of juice, organic produce, bunch of flowers and bag of coffee.
Hannah: Then the producers start connecting with each other, sharing ingredients, like Ootma making soaps using the waste coffee grounds from Liquid Spirit Coffee Roasters. Those little networks are one of the loveliest things to see.
Curating the right balance
Miles: The curation matters too. We have always wanted it to be mainly food and food-related, which means being thoughtful about what fits.