Potential plans to bring in a new operator to run a 754-year-old venue are set to be discussed next week.

Gravesend Borough Market is currently owned and managed by Gravesham council which is costing it more than £156,000 a year.

The local authority launched a strategy for the space adjacent to the High Street in 2020 to create a hub for the community and tourists to meet, shop, eat and drink while keeping its historic roots.

It hoped to turn one of the oldest surviving markets in the country, having opened in 1268, into a thriving food and drink destination following a refurb in 2014.

The three-year plan for the borough market is now due to expire and following informal discussions about its future, the team understood the main vision was to create a vibrant and successful market.

According to a council report, which is set to be discussed by the community and leisure cabinet committee, the conversations said an external operational management arrangement could help to deliver this.

The market only sees around 6% of the town centre footfall per week, but it is hoped a new operator will be able to improve this.

But what do shoppers think could be done to make the market more popular? Judit Apati thinks filling more units and stalls could be a start.

The Rochester resident visits every two weeks to have lunch at Laszlo’s Kitchen which offers Hungarian cuisine.

She said: “It is lovely and I like the atmosphere, it is a shame it is not very busy. I am sure they could do some lovely things here.

“Maybe Gravesend can use the lovely history it has got. It is next to the water, it could be lovely like the other towns in the county.

“It has got everything. The market could be like a mini London Borough Market.”

She suggested holding art festivals like they do in Whitstable where artists could come and sell their work and fill out the empty units.

Gravesend resident Rachel McMlly said it would be nice if more people were to come down and it was to gain popularity.

Another shopper said he would like to see a fresh fruit and veg stall and one selling unusual cheeses like there used to be a few years ago.

He said: “I miss the market on the top road with fresh produce. If they had one of those here, I think I would go more.

“It does not need to be regular, it could even be twice a month. We have restaurants and coffee shops in town, so why do we need them in the market?

“There needs to be a keystone stall. To me, that would be like what we had before.”

Paula McMillian and Maria Butler said they would like to see more permanent stallholders to help increase footfall.

Paula, who runs Nana’s Pride and Joy baby clothes stall on a Friday, said the council could even rent out some of the empty units to nail bars or barbers to get people in.

She added: “I think they need to bring back the old way where there were stalls every day. Growing up this market would always be filled.

“You would be able to leave your stuff here overnight. Now people use it to walk through and see it is empty so they think it is always like that.

“When I say to people I have a stall, the amount of people who say they did not know there was a market. It is quite a shame really.

“I think the market needs to be open seven days a week so people realise there is a market still.”

Officers have not recommended the plans for a new operator be approved or denied but only that the report be used to support members during the meeting.

If a new operator was found they would be responsible for managing the market and the costs that go alongside this but the council would still own the building and be responsible for its upkeep.

In their report, officers have said the firm would need to have experience “delivering a similar management operation”, develop the market as a food and drink-led destination, and “support local start-ups and developing businesses” and those already trading.

If contracted, it would save the council £126,000 a year.

Gravesend Borough Market has seven permanent food traders but work has been completed to install systems into other units to support more openings.

It also hosts themed market days such as vintage fairs and music events, Young Traders markets linked with schools and colleges, and historical tours.

But in their report, officers said although these “continue to draw in a higher footfall when they take place” it is “not enough to sustain a consistent and vibrant offer that will retain customer bases.”

Discussions are set to take place by council members on the current and future of the market on Tuesday, September 12.