Expect the unexpected at Market Harborough Indoor Market

Or Marks and Spencer’s underwear? Or find the highest-rated restaurant in Market Harborough, according to the website TripAdvisor?

Okay, you’ve guessed because of the headline, but did you actually know about the rich variety of Market Harborough’s Indoor Market?

The building – now packed with 60 independent traders – is 25 years old this year.

Admittedly it’s a fresh-faced youngster compared to the market’s history, which dates back to 1204, when the original market permit was granted to the town by King John, of Magna Carta fame. (It cost the town three marks – around 750g of silver.)

But surely only supermarket blinkers or perhaps a bit of snobbery have kept you from discovering at least a couple of traders here who have become an indispensable part of your shopping rota.

If you’re bemoaning the shortage of men’s clothes shops in the town, try John Steward’s business on the market.

It’s open six days a week (not Mondays), usually with John there in person.

“I’ve had shops in the past, but this cuts down the overheads and means nothing I sell is too expensive” he said.

“I could have retired by now, but I enjoy working here. Market Harborough market is still a good place to trade.”

His daughter Jules Bramham has followed dad onto the market – she’s just across the way with a lingerie stall called The Lingerie Lounge.

“I’m one of the newest traders here” she says. “But everyone here is so lovely...”

If you have-recognise some of her stock, that’s because it’s surplus Marks and Spencers stuff, with the labels cut out.

And what about the top-rated restaurant? That’s Dim Sum Master on the market.

The most recent six Tripadvisor reviews say “amazing”, “the best lunch”, “wonderful”, “delicious”, “brilliant” and “I absolutely adore this place”.

Elsewhere, the owner of the “old-fashioned sweet shop” Joe Brennan, says “this market’s got such a nice atmosphere, and it’s actually quite an upmarket place.

“If you’ve got the right product, it’s a good place to trade.”

And at the cake stall, Sarah Watson says: “I’ve got no regrets about coming here. We’re having a brilliant time and everyone bounces off each other.” She started on a pop-up stall, graduated to a permanent one, and now has a sit-down area too where she holds cup-cake classes.

There are long-established stalls here like Malcolm Garrett’s haberdashery Craft-I-Trims.

But new stalls are always coming in - Michael Hanley’s Grimsby fish stall is only eight weeks old.

Aylin Aitken’s WeeBazaar sells beautiful Turkish-made lamps (Aylin is Turkish) and textiles from India.

She says: “Working here is both a business and a pleasure. I really enjoy what I’m doing.”