If you want to hold a market in Wirral you may be required to obtain a Market Rights Licence from Wirral Council.
A market is defined as a 'concourse of buyers and sellers' with five or more trading spaces.
This includes but is not limited to:
- fairs
- car boot sales
- table-top sales
- traditional and specialist markets
Depending on how the market will operate you can apply for one of the following licence types:
| Type of Licence | Description |
| Short Term Market Licence | A single market in a single location operating once for a period of not more than 14 continuous days in a calendar year. |
| Medium Term Market Licence | Two or more individual markets operating for not more than 28 days in a calendar year or a single market operating for more than 14 continuous days but not more than 28 days in a calendar year. |
| Permanent Market Licence | A Market operating indefinitely or for more than 28 days in a single calendar year. |
For market activity which meets all of the following criteria, a Markets Rights Licence will not be required:
- operates for no more than 2 consecutive days a year at any one time,
- occurs no more than 12 times a year at the same location,
- has no more than 30 stalls, and
- has no significant impact on the trading activities of Birkenhead Market.
Fee
Application fee - £55 (non-refundable)
Once a valid application, including all the required supporting documentation, has been received you will receive a call from the Licensing Authority to take this payment using a credit or debit card.
Apply
Completed applications should be made electronically. Download and complete a market rights licence application form and email it to licensing@wirral.gov.uk with the required supporting documentation which is listed below. Failure to provide the supporting documentation may result in an application being rejected.
Attachments required:
- scale plan of the proposed layout identifying size and number of stalls
- evidence of landowners consent
- copy of Public Liability Insurance (minimum value of £5,000,000)
- copy of food hygiene licences and certificates (if required)
The above should be submitted as part of your application.
Download Market Rights Licence application form (PDF, 303.98KB)
Processing and timescales
The consultation period is 10 working days from receipt of a satisfactory Short term and Medium term Market Rights Licence application. If representations are received during this period your application will go to a hearing which will take place as soon as possible after the close of the consultation period.
The consultation period is 28 days from receipt of a satisfactory Permanent Market Rights Licence application. All Permanent applications will go to a hearing for consideration which will take place as soon as possible after the close of the consultation period.
Legislation and guidance
Read the Market Rights Policy (PDF, 1.38MB)
Current applications
The applications below have been received by Wirral Council and are open to public consultation until the last date for representations. Applications can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link. Any person can make representations regarding an application by sending an email to licensing@wirral.gov.uk by the last date for representations.
| Name and address of premises | Representations by |
|---|---|
| Birkenhead Community Market, 39 Borough Pavement, Birkenhead (PDF, 1.97MB) | 28 May 2024 |