Information for Traders
Product Types
Southampton Alternative Market hosts makers selling handmade (or designed by) products that would appeal to an alternative/subculture audience. Think goths, rockers, horror fans, gamers, geeks, and other subcultures!
The items you sell must have been made by you or designed by you, and must appeal to our market's target audience. Some examples of 'designed by' products are prints of your original artwork, 3D printed items where you are the original designer, or printed stationery featuring your digital art. We can accommodate stalls selling drinks for off-site consumption.
Our market cannot accommodate AI-generated art, items 3D printed under license, ready-to-eat food, mass produced items (e.g. Scentsy), basic assembling of mass-produced components (e.g. putting a pendant from Temu on a pre-made chain), or any re-selling.
Venue/Facilities
The market is held at The Shooting Star, 40-42 Bevois Valley Road, Southampton SO14 0JR and takes place in the main bar room, the spacious games room, and the large garden. The outdoor tables are under cover. The games room and some areas of the garden are accessed via steps, but the outside door of the games room can be opened to allow wheelchair access. The main bar room is wheelchair accessible and there is an accessible toilet. It is a friendly, inclusive venue.
Arrival/Set-Up/Departure
Stallholders can arrive from 11:45 and the event will be open to the public from 13:00-18:00. Breakdown is from 18:00 (no earlier) with the venue to be cleared by 19:00. There is no parking on site, but you can stop outside to drop off your things then park within a few minutes' walk. There is a car park nearby (opposite Aldi), there is unrestricted parking on Empress Road, Lawn Road, and Spring Road, and a little further away there is more parking on Westridge Road and Belmont Road, plus a public car park on Westridge Road. Please do check for any parking restrictions when leaving your car; we cannot be held responsible for any tickets.
Stall Allocations
The pub's 4ft x 2ft and 6ft x 2ft indoor tables, 7ft x 4ft pool tables with overhead lights, and covered outdoor picnic bench style tables (table surface area approximately 6ft x 2ft) are used as stall spaces, and chairs are provided. There are no spaces for traders to bring their own tables as the existing furniture and chairs will be utilised. Preferred stall spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. You must provide your own table cover.
Booking Requests and Fees
Please use the links below to apply for a stall. You will receive a response via email from southamptonalternativemarket@gmail.com within 14 days. Bookings are only confirmed once the non-refundable* fee has been paid (details of how to pay will be included in the email). Payment is due within 14 days of that email. Fees are kept as low as possible (ranging from £7-£20) to make the markets accessible to small independent makers, and the funds are used to cover costs such as advertising, equipment, and the DJ. The organiser does not profit from these events.
Update 21/01/26: I suggest that you add southamptonalternativemarket@gmail.com to your safe senders list to avoid missing important emails regarding your request. Please be aware that any space held for you will be offered to another trader if payment is not received by the deadline given in the email.
* Fees will be refunded if the event is cancelled.
June currently fully booked
Booking request form for Saturday 7th November 2026: https://forms.gle/tRsrUpdGwypQ3uSB9
About The Organiser
I (Rozz) spend much of my time outside work doing various crafts. I sell some of my creations in person and on Etsy. I set up Southampton Alternative Market in 2025 as there were no other craft fairs in Hampshire catering for this customer base.
Questions?
Please feel free to send any questions to Rozz on southamptonalternativemarket@gmail.com or send a message via the Facebook page.