New museum replacing trader units aims to draw more people into Camden Market

70 per cent of traders in affected block were in rent arrears

Tuesday, 22nd April — By Dan Carrier

camdenmarket Image 2022-06-09 at 11.45.36 PM (2)

Camden Market could be set to get a new museum, according to planning documents



A NEW attraction boasting two mini live music venues and a stage for hologram performances of global super groups is being planned for Camden Lock.

The project, called Live Odyssey, has been created by market owners Lab Tech with long-standing Camden Town music promoter Gary Prosser.

They say they aim to bring in fresh custom by celebrating Camden Town’s musical history.

But market traders say the attraction is an attempt to turn the market into what one long-standing stallholder this week called a “Brit Pop theme park”.

In an application for planning permission, Lab Tech show how they will convert a former stables block for the project.

In the paperwork, the company said that 70 per cent of traders are behind with their rent and the attraction would take the place of units that were empty. It later clarified that this figure was only related to one block of the market and not the entire site.

In a  statement to the New Journal, Market bosses said: “Live Odyssey is an immersive experience that pays tribute to the legends of British music. Inspired by the rich heritage of Camden Market, which over the years has been home to iconic musicians and bands, this unique journey celebrates the heart of London’s music scene.”

It is not an idea being universally celebrated by independent traders the market was once famous for.

Some who spoke to the New Journal under condition of anonymity said the plan is misguided and follows the now mothballed idea to install an observation wheel in the West Yard.

Traders told the New Journal that many feared for their futures as rents had risen, with LabTech saying the increases were to help pay for new online marketing campaigns.

One stallholder called the market’s social media output “cringey” and said that they were being charged high fees for the posts.

“They have jacked our rent up with the excuse they will create a social media profile for us,” they said.

“We don’t want them to do our marketing – we are perfectly capable of doing that ourselves – not some intern’s idea of what we are about.

“It has been pretty disastrous in terms of content and absolutely not value for money. They have unrealistic expectations. They’ve spent a fortune on something that is  essentially a street market. They haven’t bought Disneyland and they don’t seem to get that.”

One trader the New Journal approached said they had seen 10 long-standing traders leave in recent months.

He said: “The last straw was them charging us for Tik Tok posts. I’ve worked here for years and it is really quite simple: don’t overcharge for pitches. Make sure people have something interesting to offer. Charge rents that rise as income rises, so we can take chances, experiment.

“We don’t need another tacky experience, or a Sports Direct – we need stalls that are different from a high street.”

A Lab Tech spokeswoman said: “As the custodian of Camden Market, we have retained, enhanced, and sustained this unique cultural hub for the benefit of Camden residents, traders, and visitors. Our commercial strategy reflects this commitment, ensuring traders receive support during challenging economic situations, such as freezing rents during Covid-19.

“An important focus of our marketing efforts has been the development of our digital presence, particularly in growing our audience across Camden Market’s social media platforms.

“These efforts have yielded significant results; growing our audience to over 500,000 followers on Instagram and over 280,000 on TikTok, helping sustain high footfall and introduce the market to new customers.

“Social media is a key channel to tap into both local and global audiences and we have invested heavily in building this platform in the interest of our traders.

“We are always open to feedback and further development, and we will be happy to work with traders directly on this.”

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