Car boot sales are set to become a monthly event on Whitehaven’s harbourside.
The first Harbour Car Boot will go ahead this Sunday April 21 from 9am until 1pm on Millennium Promenade – with future sales set to take place monthly on every third Sunday.
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners is behind the new idea, which has come as part of efforts to bring more people into the town, address the cost-of-living crisis and encourage sustainability.
Deanne Shallcross, CEO of the organisation, said: “While we are primarily focused on the harbour, we’re also all about driving footfall into the town as we want to try and support the high street and wider traders.
“Sundays in particular are very quiet in Whitehaven, so we started to think about what we could put on to bring people to the harbour and hopefully the high street too.
“But all the credit for the car boot idea goes to our parking manager! He had been chatting to our traders and regulars and the idea of car boots kept coming up, so he brought that to us and we sat down, thrashed it all out and we said yes, we can absolutely do it.
“It’s an idea that fits really well with us being a green harbour, as car boots are all about recycling and reuse, so it sends a great sustainability message.
“We also recognise that people don’t have the disposable income they had a few years ago and that it is harder to just buy new things, so it’s a good chance for people to find things that are still useable.”
Deanne added that depending on the popularity of the car boot sales there is scope to expand into nearby car parks, to allow for more sellers to attend.
She said: “If it gets massive we do have other car parks we can use and in the winter we do have the option of using the multi-storey car park.
“So we can weather-proof it if we need to, and when it becomes a regular event that more people know about we can start considering those options. For now it’s about starting small and gradually getting bigger.
“But we are hoping it will bring down people who normally don’t visit the harbour on a Sunday lunchtime.”
The car boot sales will also take place on the same day as Harbour Sessions – a series of free live music events that will take place under The Hub in collaboration with Oh My Days Promotions.
After the Harbour Sessions successfully debuted last year – this year’s series has been supported by a grant from the Robin Rigg Community Fund.
Performers set to appear at this Sunday’s event include Maddie Rose and Delagrave, who will start performing at 12pm.
Those who want to bring their vehicle onto the harbour for future car boot sales are encouraged to book ahead as space is limited.
Charges are £7 per car and £10 for vans, and access will be from the Marlborough Street entrance.
To book, contact the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners on 01946 590515 or email info@whitehavenhc.org.uk.
