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Comedian and artist Vic Reeves was accompanied by his family to officially open a new indoor market.
The Village is the name for the new weekend attraction set up in a former antiques showroom in Sondes Road, opposite The Courtyard bar and restaurant in Deal.
Featuring 25 stalls, it has been masterminded by Vince Keen, who rents the space, and Neil Horenz-Kelly, who runs Don’t Walk Walk gallery opposite.
Have a look around The Village
It has been in planning since Christmas and is aimed at building a community in South Deal.
Mr Horenz-Kelly said: “We’re hoping to build a destination in south Deal.
“It can be hard to get people to cross over South Street as they don’t think there’s anything here.
“We’re not trying to compete with the other end of town but to create a trail around Deal.”
The market which runs from 10am until 4pm every Saturday and Sunday has been open for three weeks and is attracting more than 1000 people over the two days.
The official launch was held on Saturday with Vic Reeves, also known as artist Jim Moir, popping a bottle of champagne alongside wife Nancy and twin daughters Nell and Lizzie.
Stallholders have been sourced from around Deal, Folkstone and Canterbury. There are 19 residential pitches, rented on a four weekly basis, and six casual stalls.
It is a social place that promotes local makers and traders including floristry, photography, crafts, cakes, and fashionwear, Mr Horenz-Kelly explained.
The stallholders range not only in variety but age too.
He added: “We have a trader in her early 20s who is a university graduate selling her illustrations and a man in his late 80s selling antiques.”
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