Use of Town Squares

Bringing Life to Our Town Squares and Streets

Our town Squares and high streets are the heart of our community. We are passionate about supporting a vibrant mix of uses—from regular markets and festive events to charitable collections and commercial pop-ups.

If you have an idea that brings footfall and energy to our Borough, we want to hear from you! This includes activities like leafleting or promotional canvassing in our busy town centres. We are here to help you get the right permissions in place to ensure your activity is safe, legal, and well-coordinated with our local businesses.

Where Can You Trade?

Beeston (The Square)

Beeston is our flagship location for retail and commercial activity.

• Regular Markets: A standard 3x3m plot is £18 per day for ad-hoc/trial bookings, or just £10 per day if you book and pay for a full month in advance.
• Specialist Fairs: Our popular Craft and Food Fairs are £25 per pitch.
• Street Trading: Beeston also operates a ‘Consent Street’ policy, allowing for trading in several other streets around the town centre. If you’re interested in a spot outside the main Square, contact our Markets Officer for more details.

·       Note: Beeston Square hosts two permanent pitch holders who require access, and space is slightly reduced from mid-November to January to accommodate our Christmas tree.

Stapleford (Walter Parker Square)

A versatile space for hot food, gifts, and crafts.

• Exciting Changes: The Square is being redeveloped within the next 12 months! We are taking ad-hoc bookings now and building our community of regular traders for 2027.
• Note: Like Beeston, space is limited during the Christmas season (mid- November to January) due to the Christmas tree.

Eastwood & Kimberley

• Eastwood: We are currently exploring new dates and venues—get in touch to stay updated!
• Kimberley: Primarily hosts one-off specialist events led by Kimberley Town Council. Space is also limited here during the Christmas season.

Trading & Activity Beyond the Squares
While our Squares are popular hubs, we also welcome applications for activity on other high streets across the Borough. Whether you want to hand out flyers in Kimberley, host a promotion in Eastwood, or trade on a Consent Street in Beeston, simply contact our Markets Officer to discuss which locations are available and how to secure your permit.

Commercial, Charity & Promotional Bookings

We welcome enquiries from promotional agencies, street fundraisers, and permanent food traders.

• Permits: Prices for commercial permits and street trading are available on application, please contact the Markets Officer for details.
• Charities & Schools: We love supporting local causes! Reach out to discuss our community rates.

Planning your visit

To ensure our town Squares remain safe and well-coordinated for everyone, we require a bit of lead time to process your booking.

Advance Bookings Only: All activities, including leafleting and canvassing, must be pre-approved. We require at least 28 days' notice and full payment before we can issue a permit.

Why the 28-day rule? This allows us time to issue your permit and to check that your insurance is in order, ensure your activity does not clash with other scheduled events or maintenance work.

Last-Minute Requests: Because of these safety checks, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate "on-the-day" or last-minute requests to trade or engage with the public.

How to Book Your Space

To ensure we offer the best mix of activity, we cannot reserve pitches ahead of any formal bookings. Permission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

1. The First Step
Before filling out any forms, please contact our Markets Officer, Clair Low, at 0115 917 3588 or email markets@broxtowe.gov.uk. We will chat through your plans and ensure you have the most up-to-date application forms (please don't use old versions!)

2. Your Application Checklist
To get your permit processed quickly, please ensure your application includes:

• Completed Application Form (including signed indemnity/conditions).
• Proof of Public Liability Insurance: Minimum cover of £10 million for commercial bookings and £5 million for market traders.
• A Photo: Show us your stall, vehicle, or barrow in action (if applicable).
• Payment: All permits must be paid in full at least 28 days in advance. You can book up to a year ahead to secure your preferred dates!

3. Confirmation
We work hard to review applications quickly. Please note that implied consent does not apply—you must receive a formal permit before you can trade. If you have not heard from us within 28 days of your confirmation email, please get in touch.

Note - By submitting an application, you agree to our full Terms and Conditions, including our cancellation and non-refund policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we hand out leaflets or canvass the public?
We welcome promotional and charitable activity, but it must be pre-approved. You must have a valid permit to engage with the public on our Squares. Please apply at least 28 days in advance so we can ensure the Square is not overcrowded and your activity is safely coordinated. Unauthorised canvassing is not permitted.

How much will my booking cost?

This depends on the type of booking and space required. However we have a pricing policy that is reviewed annually and sets out all pricing variations based booking criteria. We would encourage you to contact us for the prices that are relevant to your requirements.

What happens if my booking or a market is cancelled?
While we always aim for events to go ahead, the Council and our market operators reserve the right to cancel any booking or market at any time. This may be necessary due to adverse weather, public safety concerns, or unforeseen circumstances.

• Markets: For weather-related cancellations, please check the specific operator’s social media pages for real-time updates. The Markets Officer will also aim to contact you as soon as possible before the market to inform you if the market has to be cancelled.
• Other Bookings: If the Council needs to cancel your specific permit (e.g., for emergency maintenance), we will contact you as soon as possible using the details provided in your application.
• Refunds: Please note that permit payments are non-refundable, as outlined in our terms and conditions.

Can I bring my vehicle onto the Square?
You can bring your vehicle onto the Square for unloading and loading during designated times. However, to keep our Squares pedestrian-friendly, all vehicles (except for dedicated food trailers) must be moved to nearby parking immediately after setup is complete.

Where is the best place to park?
There is plenty of convenient, low-cost parking within a short walk of all our sites. We recommend using the PayByPhone app for easy payment:

• Beeston: Foster Avenue or Albion Street.
• Stapleford: Cliffe Hill Avenue or Derby Road.
• Eastwood: Victoria Street or Oxford Street.
• Kimberley: Victoria Street or James Street.

Do I need to manage my own waste?
Yes. As a trader, you have a legal "Duty of Care" to manage and dispose of your own trade waste. You must ensure your pitch is kept clean throughout the day and that all rubbish is removed from the site when you leave. Using domestic or public street bins for trade waste is strictly prohibited.

Is there access to power and water?
If you need access to electricity or water supply, please discuss this with the Markets Officer during your application.

What are the rules on noise and music?
To be respectful to local residents and neighbouring businesses, the use of amplified sound or noisy instruments to attract custom is generally not allowed. If your event or promotion requires amplification, please request specific permission in your application.

Ready to make it happen?

If you are ready to bring your business, cause, or event to our vibrant town centres, we’re ready to help you get started. Remember, we need a minimum of 28 days' notice to get your permit in place, so get in touch today to secure your preferred dates!

• Step 1: Get Your Paperwork Ready
  Make sure you have your Public Liability Insurance and a photo of your setup ready to go.
• Step 2: Contact the Team
  Email Clair Low at markets@broxtowe.gov.uk or call 0115 917 3588 to request the most up-to-date application forms.
• Step 3: Explore Our Markets
  For more specific details on our regular weekly traders and specialist fairs, our dedicated page. Also follow us on [Insta/FB link]

We look forward to working with you to keep our streets and Squares buzzing!

Application Process

The most up to date 'Use of Town Squares' application forms, including indemnity and the conditions of use are available on request. Please do not attempt to submit applications using previous versions of these documents. It is advised not to retain application forms on file to avoid this.

We do not take provisional bookings for the use of any of our town squares.

Other Commercial Use

The Council will continue to charge for permits allowing the use of the town Squares for commercial activity, such as promotional stall holders, catering vans/trailers (excluding markets).

The price for a permit to allow the use of our town Squares is on application.

Commercial rates will be reviewed and are subject to change at any time

Beeston Square Note: Applicants for space in The Square, Beeston should also be aware that there are currently two permanent plot holders that require partial use of the area and necessary access.

Christmas Trees in Squares: There will be a large Christmas tree in position at squares in Beeston, Kimberley and Stapleford from mid-November to early January annually, which may limit the room available for bookings.