Shepton Mallet Sunday Market, once a month in the Market Place
Once a month, on a Sunday, Shepton Mallet Sunday Market brings people into the middle of town. It's young, but it's in experienced hands.
It runs on the last Sunday of the month, March to November, from 10am to 3pm in the Market Place: local producers, street food, vintage and antiques, designer-makers, homewares and fashion, with entertainment for children, live music and DJs. It came back for 2026, and its last two dates of the year are:
- Sunday 25 October, 10am to 3pm.
- Sunday 29 November, a Christmas Lights Spectacular, 11am to 5pm.
If you're driving, the market's own site lists parking at Great Ostry, Commercial Road and Townsend Shopping Park. The organisers say it draws a crowd. Nobody publishes how many people come, so you'll have to take their word for it, or go on a Sunday and see.
Who's behind it
The market is organised by Black Sheep Events, a not-for-profit company run by Shepton residents, with volunteers and the support of Shepton Mallet Town Council. Its market manager used to run Frome's Artisan Market, the one that became The Frome Independent, so the person in charge of Shepton's has done this before.
If you'd like a stall
The market's Trade With Us page lists pitches from £14 for a small suitcase pitch to £120 for a large street food pitch, with electricity £10 extra, and you'll need £5 million public liability insurance. The organisers choose who trades, and they take bookings up to three months ahead. They ask for good photographs with your application and may use them in the market's own publicity, so take well-lit pictures of what you sell before you apply: they'll be doing two jobs.
If you have a shop in town
A market Sunday only helps a shop that's open, and only if people know it is. If you do open, make sure those Sunday hours show up on Google, one of the jobs on our checklist for being found in local searches. The harder part is giving a Sunday visitor a reason to come back on an ordinary weekday, which Castle Cary's shops work at every week with its Tuesday market.
A market brings the visitors once; being easy to find afterwards brings them back. Our marketing for businesses in Somerset page sets out how we help with that part locally.
Questions people ask
When is Shepton Mallet Sunday Market?
On the last Sunday of the month, from 10am to 3pm. The remaining 2026 dates on the market's website are 25 October and 29 November, when the market becomes a Christmas Lights Spectacular from 11am to 5pm.
Where is Shepton Mallet Sunday Market held?
In the Market Place, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AZ. The market's website lists parking at Great Ostry, Commercial Road and Townsend Shopping Park.
How much does a pitch at Shepton Mallet Sunday Market cost?
The market's website lists pitches from £14 for a 1m by 1m suitcase pitch, up to £120 for a 3m to 6m street food pitch, with electricity £10 extra. Traders need £5 million public liability insurance.
Who runs Shepton Mallet Sunday Market?
Black Sheep Events, a not-for-profit company run by a team of volunteers who live in Shepton, with the support of Shepton Mallet Town Council.
I founded oXo Creatives, an independent marketing agency and consultancy, in 2013 and run it full-time. Until 2026 I ran it alongside senior in-house marketing roles at Google, PlayStation and King, partner management at Meta, and digital product at NatWest.
Trading in Somerset?
If you run a business in Bruton, Wincanton, Castle Cary or nearby, ask us for a free 30-minute call about getting found by people searching locally. Or start with the checklist we use.
