Market Hall manager steps down amid criticism

0Derby Market Hall reopened in May 2025 after a £35m refurbishment but is forecast to make a loss this yearThe manager of Derby's Market Hall has stepped down from the role weeks after a damning report into its first year in operation.

Hana York had managed the venue since it reopened in May 2025 after a £35m restoration.

She is understood to have resigned from the position shortly after an internal council review was published earlier this month, which found the Market Hall had no "clear commercial objectives" and no proper marketing plan when it reopened to the public.

The internal review found "significant gaps" in planning before the venue reopened, as well as pricing issues and flawed decisions on opening hours.

One trader recently told the BBC he was facing bankruptcy after a "nightmare" period working in the venue and claimed that some months saw virtually no footfall.

Leaders at the council recently agreed to explore handing the day-to-day running of the venue over to a commercial operator.

A council financial report for the first quarter of 2026-27 has forecast a £338,000 deficit due to what officials described as a "shortfall of trader income".

It also emerged last year that hundreds of traders who had applied for a spot in the hall had been turned away by the city council.

Last year, York defended the venue's performance and said the council should continue to operate despite criticism from traders.

York told the BBC: "What I find sad, I suppose, because I know how hard the team are working, my team are working seven days a week to make this venue a success, is you always hear from the few that are unhappy," she said.

She also said she thought there was "pressure from the public" to get the market open but rejected the idea that mistakes had been made.

"Not mistakes, I'd have said timings for things haven't always gone our way, building elements haven't always gone our way, but mostly things that were out of anybody's control."

When asked if she thought the council should consider handing the market over to an external operator, York said she hoped that would not happen.

"I think there's value in that being a council-run building," she said.

"One of the things that perhaps the public don't see so much is all that community activity that that space has already been doing and will continue to do, and because we're part of the council, it makes it much easier for us to do that."

The city council said interim management arrangements were in place to ensure the Market Hall "continues to operate smoothly".

"We'd like to thank Hana for the huge contribution she's made as manager," it said.

"Her commitment and hard work have played an important role in establishing the Market Hall and supporting both traders and customers.

"In line with the recent review, we're now considering the most appropriate way to fill this role going forward, as we continue our work to ensure the venue realises its full potential for traders, customers and the wider city centre."

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