Traders have welcomed the news that an experienced operator is being appointed to help a historic venue thrive.

Gravesham council has decided it will be bringing in an external management company to run Gravesend Borough Market and help transform it into a food and drink-led destination.

The local authority owns the building and is currently responsible for running it – at a cost of more than £156,000 a year.

It 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.

To do this, at a cabinet meeting earlier this month, councillors decided to appoint an external operator who has expertise and experience running similar venues.

Speaking to KentOnline about the plans, cabinet member for community and leisure, Cllr Lauren Sullivan (Lab), said: “We have had extensive discussions in our cabinet committees and also through market research on how we can look to inject some new expertise and life into the market.

“After speaking with residents and businesses across Gravesham, people are telling us they want a food and drink leisure offer.

“That is exactly what we are proposing to do and an external operator who has the experience and expertise of running these sorts of markets across the country will help us to deliver that.

“It is a fantastic opportunity, it is such a heritage asset and Gravesham is at the cusp of something really exciting, we have Thames Clippers coming down in a couple of years and a new vision for the town centre we are working on.

“It is about branding this area, town and the borough and its villages as somewhere really exciting to come and visit which is what Gravesend used to be.

“It used to be a pleasure town which people would come and visit. We are excited that the market will be part of that wider offer.

“This is really the start of a chain reaction which I am hoping, with the development of The Charter, will bring in a fantastic footfall to the town centre.”

The market only sees around 6% of the town centre footfall per week, but it is hoped a new operator, who would be responsible for managing the markets and associated costs, will be able to improve this.

Cllr Sullivan said the council’s vision for the market means it will still support start-ups and developing businesses, other stall holders, themed events and those already trading.

She added: “We have cross party support to try and invest in and bring life back into the market. We want to see Gravesham do well.

“There is such a willingness to see the borough shine and it makes me really proud to be a part of it.”

But what do the businesses already open in the market think about the changes? Husband-and-wife duo Rob and Faye Chrystal, who have run award-winning Scottish coffee shop Chrystal's for around three years, have welcomed the news.

Faye said: “I am happy that someone is going to come and do something with the market. It is a terrific building and has a lot of potential. All of us here work so hard to keep our customers.

“I would welcome it, it needs some radical change and I am hoping it will be good. I am hoping they still keep the pop-up market days.

“We need something that is a bit up-market but not too much, it needs to be affordable.”

The owner of Subie’s Grill, Subie Spence, said he is hoping something will change. He added: “It is going to be difficult, it is not going to happen overnight. It needs to be someone who is willing to work very hard.

“If there is more footfall there will be more business which means we are happy. But it is a waiting game, we will have to wait and see what happens.”

Although some are hopeful, others are still sceptical. Ian Parris, owner of E’s Pizza Revolution, is one who is not confident it will go ahead.

He said: “I have not got high hopes but it is what the market needs. I would want to see a complete plan about what it is going to be.”

The tender for the contract is expected to go out this week with the hope a firm will be appointed early next year.