A market that’s over 320 years old has finally got its own logo as part of a branding drive to tell people there's more on offer than food.

Deal's Saturday market is included on the Town's Charter from William III dated 1699 and since the 1960s traders have been pitching their stalls at Union Road car park where it is still based.

After reducing significantly in size during lockdown to allow for extra spacing, traders selling non-essential wares were able to return in April and more will join this month, so Deal Town Council commissioned the logo to coincide with this.

Saturday Market Officer Chris Hobbs-East says “I'm so excited that after 322 years Deal Saturday Market finally has a logo which will help it brand itself within the town and beyond.

The logo has been designed by Deal based company Howell & Hicks who have also designed logos for various other businesses in Deal including Wellingtons and The Meatball Company.

Within the brief was to incorporate the address to the newly refurbished Town Council website, to make it known that it is not just a food market and to include the established date.

He added: "It was great that Howell & Hicks could incorporate the fact that we are not just a food market within the logo.”

“With the Covid restrictions that we have had to adhere to, we have been able to easily count how many people visit each week. This astonishingly is averaging between 2000 – 5000 people!

"We are hoping the restrictions will be lifted for outdoor markets at the end of June, as this will mean we can open fully and welcome 38 stalls on a weekly basis!

"We are always looking at ways to improve and update the market, to make it more of a destination for locals and visitors alike and having a logo will help increase the publicity of the market.

The market has been situated within Union Road Car Park since the late 60s and this lends itself to being a great asset to help steer the public to shopping within the High Street.”

The market boasts a wide range of products including handmade soaps, antiques, vintage clothes and blue and white china to fruit and veg, meat from a butcher, cakes, wine and a bakery goods.

It is open every Saturday between 8am and 2pm.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal