CREWE'S new Market Hall enjoyed a great opening day with traders and customers giving a firm thumbs up to the change in emphasis at the Earle Street venue.

Covid restrictions are currently limiting capacity to table seating, but traders and market chiefs want people to come in and stick around to sample the food hall, browse the retail and sit down for a chat with friends and family.

A range of events have been planned after the official opening on Saturday, June 26. Some have been pencilled in before the June 21 major roadmap date and include a record fair on Saturday, June 13.

Tonight (Thursday) the hall's operators are staging their first quiz night (from 7pm) with local questions the speciality and a £20 prize.

Why not get yourself down to the Earle Street venue during the day and take a peek at the range of street food stalls offering Mexican food, burgers, pizzas and sweet treats, among others? There's also a craft beer bar - The Crewe Dog - and retail.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was the first day the venue has been open in two years. Read all about the opening day.

The hall is open from Wednesday through to Sunday, and as late as 11pm at weekends.

Here are the all-important OPENING TIMES

Wedneday 9.30am-6pm

Friday 9.30am-11pm

Sunday 10.30am-7pm.

You will be asked to sign in if you are staying for food and drinks using the NHS Track and Trace app or the Market Hall's own QR code which can be found at the entrance or on on the tables.

There is table service and a QR code can be used to order using a mobile phone.

Tables seat up to a maximum of six people. Face coverings need to be worn when moving around the hall and social distancing guidelines need to be followed.

The list of traders is:

Street food - Nature's Street Chef, Jordy's Pizza, Mighty Burger Club, Casa Mexico, Mini Beans Coffee, Buttery Biscuit Base, Swirly Pearls.