The South Coast Makers Market is a quarterly pop-up market in Bournemouth. July’s market is at the Loading Dock in the town centre from 10.30 am to 3 pm. Entry is free.

The market is laid on by ‘The South Coast Makers Market’; an organisation set up to support handmade makers and high street independents. It began in 2018 as a one-off Christmas market, but has grown into a regular event. In addition to the quarterly market, they hold other pop up events throughout the year, plus a ‘Keep it Local’ Loyalty Card and a directory of local independent businesses.

It’s my first visit to the market, but the flyer tells me to expect an eclectic mix of 30 makers, street food, coffee, DJs, a bike stunt show and crate digging. I have no idea what crate digging is. I guess there’s only one way to find out…

It’s not the easiest place the find, primarily because it’s in a place called The Loading Bay, which I thought was a somewhat pretentious name for a shop. It turns out it’s an actual loading bay for a row of shops. Once I’ve realised my mistake, I locate the loading bay in an alleyway behind the shopping centre.

It’s definitely an event best reached on foot as there’s nowhere to park a car (or a bike). Once I’ve found somewhere to put the bike (I don’t want to be confused for part of the stunt show!) I take a wander round the market stalls.

It’s smaller than I’d expected. But there’s an interesting mix of goods on sale; cookies, honey, jewellery, vinyl records…. I make a bee line for Lucanart and buy a selection of postcards.

I decide not to stay long as there’s a stall selling freshly ground coffee and the all pervasive smell of coffee makes me queasy. Just time to watch some bike stunts, which is fun, if a little stressful as it looks pretty dangerous. Then I depart on my own bike, without any stunts, and without ever finding out what crate digging is.