£1m fundraising campaign to save historic Morecambe building creates a buzz

The Queen’s Market in Victoria Street is not a market, it’s a marketplace that grows talent, according to Nick Smith who has spent six years restoring the building single-handedly.

He’s now creating a ‘ceiling of dreams’ within the building featuring 20,000 hand painted dandelions and is appealing to local people to help him fulfil this dream by donating £1 each time they have their names placed on one of the million petals included in the potentially recordbreaking artwork which aims to raise a smile and attract visitors.

All money raised will go into the Community Interest Company which Nick has set up to develop the venture.

“We will give the opportunities that exist in everyone to let their talent become a quality experience,” explained Nick for whom the development is a real labour of love.

The building originated in 1895 and when completely restored, he envisages it as a food hall, a science and education experience and ideas café for young people where talents can be unlocked.

He believes the development could create around 80 jobs as well as opening up opportunities for many more.

To draw people’s attention to the building, Nick has painted a giant bee mural on the Victoria Street frontage as an emblem for this campaign.

The bee is looking for pollinators – or potential donors – to sow the seed and grow local talent.

It’s hoped that people will take photographs in front of the mural and share them on social media to promote the appeal.

Over the weekend of September 3-4, the building will be open for visitors to look round and see its potential.

It should bring back memories for those who remember it as the Palladium Cinema or as Crystal T’s nightclub and a squash club in the 1980s. Both were closed by 2008.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a petal, can do so at the open weekend or can go to here or post their donation with names attached through the Queen’s Market letterbox.