Gravesend Borough Market will re-open tomorrow with a new look to mark another chapter in its long history.

Saturday’s opening will mark the end of almost a year of refurbishment, with customers set to descend on the iconic entrance through Old Town Hall in the High Street for the traditional Christmas market.

Builders have been hard at work on the site since February 1, and now traders have moved in and are ready to do business.

Gravesham council commissioned the project thanks to a £1.8 million grant from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

The market – one of England’s oldest charter markets – was in desperate need of such help, with its roots tracing back as far as 1268, when Henry III granted the Manor of Parrock permission to run a market every Saturday, with an annual fair in June.

Cllr Samir Jassal, the council’s cabinet member for business development, said: “This is a really exciting time for the town centre, the new traders and shoppers.

“We’ve really got a market to be proud of here and something which we’re positive will surpass the previous market offering.

“A lot of work has taken place and we’re excited for people to see its transformation.

“Most of the new hall will be open and ready for the Christmas rush, but a few things we need to finish in the next few months will be a cafe and street food section.”

"We should really enjoy the fact that our town’s charter market is reborn, and when the project is complete it’ll be the best in Kent"

Working in conjunction with a design team from Clay Architecture, the builders from Faithdean have installed a new roof with a fresh set of lights, freshened up the paintwork, added new permanent stall structures, and overhauled the market clock.

There will be a range of up to 21 permanent stalls, 30 temporary stalls, and six temporary food stalls.

More improvements will follow in 2017, with the market cafe and the return of the old fish market, while tourism hub Towncentric will also relocate to the site.

Cllr Jassal continued: “We want to make sure we get these things right, which is why they’ve taken slightly longer. We hope by introducing a new café and street food area that it’ll really strengthen what’s offered within the market.

“For now, we should really enjoy the fact that our town’s charter market is reborn, and when the project is complete it’ll be the best in Kent.”

Saturday’s opening will be preceded by a parade starting from Community Square at 9.30am, and led by Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Greta Goatley.

The mayor will cut the ribbon at the market hall at 10am.

Shoppers will then be able to spend until their hearts are content in the Christmas market until 6pm.

If you are interested in any of the new opportunities for business within the market, visit gravesendboroughmarket.co.uk.