Westhoughton Community Network

group for and run by community groups in Westhoughton

Westhoughton Market

Westhoughton Market is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays offering a wide variety of stalls, with occasional events and 'special markets' taking place at regular intervals making use of the rear hall. For further information contact Westhoughton Market, pop in on one of the Market Days (or call Karen on 07463 856197). More info at Westhoughton Market can also be found on their Facebook page.

Now under new management, Westhoughton Market has seen some changes with the rear hall being filled with a variety of stalls and offerings, open on all market days, with more stalls, there is a lot more on offer including: mobile phone upgrades and repairs, carpets and rugs store, luggage, second hand clothes, sewing services, beauty therapy, the return of Ken's Deli… plenty of bargains to be had.

Watch out for the occasional special family-friendly events putting the market at the heart of the community, such as Easter and St. George's events and special markets in the run up to Christmas. On such 'community days' entertainment will be provided by presenters from Howfen Radio.


Halloween Spooktacular | Saturday 28th October 1017 (10am to 4pm)

Westhoughton Market presents Halloween Spooktacular - Saturday, 28th October 2017

Join the fun! Westhoughton Market is going for thrills and fright this weekend as it celebrates Halloween!

Family-friendly activities and lots to see and do. Come see the popular Curious Critter 'Live Show'. There is free face-painting; take pictures in the spooky jail. Get the kids to bring along a pumpkin and enter it into the Pumpkin Carving Competition.

if you've not been for a while it is a chance to see the changes and new stalls and wide variety of goods at the New Westhoughton Market.

Past Events

Westhoughton Yarn Bombing | Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th August 2017

The management and traders of Westhoughton Market took part in the fun as Westhoughton was once again 'yarn bombed' with colourful displays around the town centre. Family-friendly activities and attractions. with the return of 'Little Barn Farm' - the mobile petting zoo always goes down with children - pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens…


Westhoughton Market presents their Easter Farm - Saturday, 15th April 2017Easter Event | Saturday, 15th April 2017

A great fun filled day, children oriented day at you local award-winning market… meet the animals from 'Little Barn Farm' - Penny and Dora, the wonderful pigs; Stroke Betty and Lola 'Little Barn's' friendly sheep, on hand a variety of farm animals to meet and greet.

Easter Egg Hunt, face-painting, and music and commentary from the Howfen Radio team.


Halloween Spooktacular | Saturday, 29th October 2016

Bring the family for a fun day to celebrate Halloween at Westhoughton Market!

Plenty to see and do: Halloween Scavenger Hunt; prize for Best Fancy Dress (All children who arrive in fancy dress will be given a treat); Pumpkin Carving Competition (bring along your Pumpkin and enter it into our competition); meet Spiderman and Iron Man; meet the Owls; free Spooky Face-painting; Tombola and Side Stalls; Tarot Readings, with music by the Howfen Radio team.


Curious Critters Day | Saturday, 20th August 2016

A wildlife experience with a Curious Critters Day, and a chance to see up close beasts and bugs. Also reptiles; rescued, rehabilitated birds of prey from The Barn Owl Bill Charitable Trust.

Entertainment for kids with bug themed games, and Bush Tucker Food Trials… Free balloon modelling, free face-painting. Music from Bolton FM

Yarn Bombing Festival | Saturday, 2nd July 2016

Westhoughton Market joined in the fun for this colourful, annual event. Traders donned 40s and 50s costume; with themed stalls and entertainment throughout the day.


St. Georges Day Celebration Market | Saturday, 23rd April 2016

Westhoughton Market presents their Christmas Fun Day Market - Saturday, 23rd April 2016 A good turnout for this Family Funday community event celebrating St. George's Day. A mix of entertainment, special attractions and, of course, a range of stalls to peruse. It is good to see the market so full and with such a wide range of offers.

Bolton FM providing the background music and banter. For children there was free face-painting; Marshall from Paw Patrol was in attendance; a bouncy castle… and keen to be part of community events Westhoughton's very own, world-renowned Wingates Brass Band performed an hour-long set for the grateful public in the rear hall. Updates on Facebook page


Westhoughton Christmas Market | Saturday, 12th December 2015

Westhoughton Market presents their Christmas Fun Day Market - Saturday, 12th December 2015This year's festive market was a great success: as well as the normal stalls, there were themed visiting stalls and attractions such as model boats, reindeer, birds of prey, face-painting; entertainment and sing-a-longs from local acoustic players - the Travellin' Strings - and of course, a visit from Santa in his grotto.

Good to see the market so busy on a cold and wet winter's day!


Westhoughton Victorian Market | Saturday, 6th December 2014

WASP as Pearly Queens at the Westhoughton Victorian Market (2013) Complimenting the Rainbow Crafts Victorian Fayre at the Carnegie Hall, in 2014 event Westhoughton Market and the Westhoughton Traders Association held another Christmas Fair on Saturday, 6th December with entertainment from The Travellin' Strings, as well as a selection of festive stalls in the rear hall.

The Travellin' Strings perform at the Westhoughton Victorian Market (2013) Getting into the Christmas spirit, traders donned their Victorian costume. The Travellin' Strings performed a festive guitar sing-a-long in the morning, with covers band, Timeshift, performing in the afternoon. Santa was in his grotto , helped by his elves to meet and greet the good little boys and girls of Westhoughton. Tombola and raffles raised money for good causes: Alzheimer's Society and Our Local Heroes.


Love Your Local Market Event | Saturday, 17th May 2014

Westhoughton Market celebrating Love Your Local Market Day A national campaign to encourage shoppers to visit their local market, traders at Westhoughton Market are organising a community event for the day with entertainment and things to do and see. There will be a bouncy castle for the children, a birds of prey display - get up close to these amazing creatures; and as well as the usual stalls there will be some extra stalls offering even more bargains. Why not pop along and see what's on offer - it may surprise you!

"Love Your Local Market is a celebration of our market culture here in the UK that happens over a fortnight in May. 700 markets took part last year, putting on over 3,500 events. LYLM is also all about entrepreneurship and since we started in 2012 the markets industry has pledged around 7,000 pitches to new traders."

More about the 'Love Your Local Market' campaign here


Victorian Market | Saturday, 7th December 2013

Building on previous successful events Westhoughton Market traders, in conjunction with Market Street shops and businesses, are planning for their 3rd annual Victorian Market. There will be a mix stalls, entertainment, community activities, and a fundraising raffle. Period dress. Santa's grotto will be back.

Westhoughton Market presents their third Victorian Market - Saturday, 7th December 2013

Westhoughton Traders Group | 1940s Day

In the latest of the regular themed events organised by Westhoughton Market and traders on Market Street, on Saturday 6th July Westhoughton was taken taken back in time to the war-time era of rationing, simple but stylish dress, the need to keep spirits up whilst fighting the foe and community togetherness. Organised over many months, there was plenty going on throughout the day in and around the market and Market Street itself: sights and sounds capturing the spirit of the 1940s.

Click on arrow to view slideshow.

1940s Day Westhoughton Market - 6 July 2013

Full-size photo-set on flickr

Rations Books with information and discount vouchers were given out to entice local residents, promoting the Market and its many and varied stalls and shops and businesses on Market Street. The event was also in support of the Help For Heroes charity raising £861.

On the day there was local singer Carly Ritchie performing classic and timeless songs; a local history walk of Westhoughton town centre organised by the industrious Local History group, themed stalls in the rear market hall, entertainment at Vibrant Vintage, raffles, Cow Trails, ending with a short remembrance service at the cenotaph to acknowledge the debt owed to our servicemen.

Westhoughton Market 1940s Day poster - Saturday 6th July 2013

Previous Events

Victorian Market | Saturday, 1st December 2012 (10am to 4pm)

Following on from the success Westhoughton Market traders had with their Victorian Market last year, it was decided to approach the other traders on Market Street to see if they would be interested in holding a Victorian Day involving the whole of the street. It is hoped that this will spotlight some of the many businesses and independent shops we have on our high street. Taking place on Saturday the 1st of December it coincides with the local produce market usually held on the first Saturday of the month.

The Build Up

A small group of traders made up staff from Bloomin' Flowers, Wetherspoons, The Wheatsheaf, Toymaster and Greenhalgh's Bakers, and seven market traders have met every month to formalise the day. In all a total of twenty businesses on the High Street plus all the market traders have committed in one way or another to being involved in making this a magical day. Shopkeepers, stallholders and public house staff will all be dressing in Victorian dress giving the whole street a very festive air. Come along enjoy the smell of hot chestnuts roasting, enjoy a glass of mulled wine in Wetherspoons and enjoy all the fun of the fair. A day with something for everyone.

Throughout November we are running a competition Where is the Victorian Lady to publicize the event. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday a new picture of Victoria will be put in the Market, Wetherspoons, and the Wheatsheaf as well as appearing on Westhoughton Market's Facebook page. All you have to do is pop your entry in the box in the market or email it to Westhoughton Market with your name contact number and where you think she is and number of picture. This competition is being sponsored by Nick's Restaurant at Chequerbent. Prize is a £30 voucher for Nick's.

Activities & Entertainment

There will be lots of fun on the day with a bake off competition. Where would be bakers can enter a Christmas yule log, or mince pie these must be baked and decorated by yourself. The winners will be judged by Nick from Nick's Restaurant, one of Greenhalgh's Master Bakers, and Councillor Ryan Battersby, Mayor of Westhoughton. It's 50p per entry, and forms available in the market and other participating venues. Not forgetting the junior bakers we have the Best Decorated Log for under 15s. This has been sponsored by the Pottery Studio.

On the day there will be lots of fun, starting in the morning with Wingates Brass Band between 10am and 12 noon at the Market; Leyland Morris Dancers, 10am to 12 noon at the Town Hall; Eatock Primary choir singing carols between 12:00 and 12.45pm near the Status@BL5 boutique; Washacre School choir will sing between 1:00 and 1:45pm at the Town Hall. Finally, local legends, The Houghton Weavers will be performing between 1:00 and 3:00pm in the Market Hall.

Victorian Market 2012 flyer (Westhoughton Market) We will also have several cartoon characters out on the high street. Darth Vader will be in Toymaster between 10.00am and 12.00pm and Buzz Light Year will also step back in time to visit our event. There will be Chadwick's Fun Fair providing fun and thrills for all during the day and early evening behind the Wheatsheaf Pub with all the fun of the fair.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto in the market from 10:00am until 4:00pm, with a small break for lunch. He is being helped by the Westhoughton Community Queens and Princesses.

Shops are dressing their windows for the event and many shopkeepers and market traders will be in Victorian Dress. Many shops and businesses will be offering a variety of goods from hot mince pies, pies and peas, mulled wine and Christmas ales and roast chestnuts all to get us in the Christmas Spirit.

Bloomin' flowers have a 'Guess the Number of Robins' competition running throughout December so get along and see if you can win their luxury hamper.

There will also be a 'Reindeer Trial.' Families can obtain questionnaires from participating businesses for 50p, and see how many reindeers they can find using our cryptic clues. This will run throughout December so family's can have some festive fun, and we can raise money for the Mayor's charities. There will be many reindeers in shop windows but not all will be the ones you are looking for!

High street shops are also entering the 'Best Dressed Window' competition which has been organised by the newly formed Westhoughton Traders Association.

In the event of wet weather the children's choirs will sing in Wetherspoons and Cherry's coffee shop. The Morris Dancers will be in the Market Hall.

It is hoped that if this is a success we can make this an annual event with more shops involved next year.

All monies raised from the event will be given to Westhoughton Mayor's charities - Ovarian Cancer and Kids of Bolton. So come along and enjoy some old-fashioned fun and see what your town has to offer. The fun will start on the 30th November when the Westhoughton's town lights will be switched on by the Mayor. Traders will be in Victorian Dress and the children from St Bart's will be singing carols.

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Participating Groups

Local Amenities

Photos & Videos

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Useful Links

Community Events

  • Daisy Hill Station Improvements
    March to December 2024
    As part of 'Access for All' improvements station will see changes to ticket hall and installation of a lift and toilet, as well as car park changes. £4m project. Some disruption but services continue. Details at Friends of Daisy Hill Station page -
  • History Group
    Monthly meetings - 3rd Thurs (10:30am)
    Westhoughton Library
    After a busy 2023 including the Wingates Band Story exhibition celebrating the brass bands 150th anniversary (Q323), schedule resumes with speakers and special events for this popular heritage group. Next mtg 21/3 st March - Speaker Ruth Duckworth: My Life in Cricket (Part 2)
  • Rotary Christmas Float 2023
    During December Rotary Club of Westhoughton were out and about visiting local estates and will at Sainsbury's ahead of Christmas. As well as Santa and his Rotary Elves bringing Christmas cheer to young and old, it is an important fundraiser; this year £6,249 was raised to be shared out with local community organisations. £5,640 raised and shared in 2022 - Presentation evening 20/4/23; 19 organisations receiving cheques.
  • Hub at Westhoughton
    The Hub at Westhoughton on Central Drive is home to a range of groups and activities serving the community. Information Leaflet.
  • Westhoughton Library
    Library now open for books, general reading and computer access. With current refurbishment complete, community activities on both ground and upper floor have resumed. Info | Community Plans.
  • Robert Shaw / Book of Quint
    Special event with Ryan Dacko, author of 'The Book of Quint' took place at Wetherspoon's 1st July, celebrating Westhoughton-born Robert Shaw and introducing the backstory of the shark hunter from Jaws. It was a great success with people coming far and wide, leading to Amberley publishing deal.
  • WOW! Women of Westhoughton
    Thursdays from 7:00pm
    John Holt Centre (BL5 2NR)
    Est. 2013, women's group for shared interests, talks, outings & social networking. New meeting venue. Updated programme.
  • Daisy Hill FC Fixtures (Home)
    League Division 1 North
    New Sirs (BL5 2EB)
    Cutters season in full flow. New management, new signings and clubhouse improvements. Support your local team. KO Sat 3pm or Mon 7:45pm. £5 adults / £3 concession / £2 U18s / U12s free w/ adult.
  • Lockdown information (Covid-19)
    For 16 months life and community was disrupted by measures to deal with the pandemic. It has been a long and impactful period, thankfully things are opening up again there is a return to normal. Watch for updates as community re-engages here and on
    Westhoughton.net Facebook Page.
  • Town Centre Masterplan
    Proposals for investment in Town Centre (Market Street focus) were consulted upon in 2019-20 with a Steering Group meeting to discuss plans for £4m investment and significant changes to Market Street, Central Park, Carnegie Hall and Town Hall.
  • Hope Community Centre
    The Central Drive church and community space is currently closed pending refurbishment discussions with Bolton Council. Hope Church services take place in the Hub.
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