Thrive Street, the Mary Portas-curated pop-up market, arrives in Manchester on October 17.
Situated in the city’s buzzing NOMA district, and backed by Mastercard and Worldpay, the three-day event champions the vitality and diversity of Britain’s independent retail sector.
Mary “Queen of Shops” Portas, Mastercard and Worldpay have handpicked small, community-minded brands to take part in the market, which are all united by a passion for crafting beautiful, one-of-a-kind items for people who want to shop for products with purpose, character and innovation.
Thrive Street comes as research shows that two-thirds of UK consumers say shopping small and local makes them feel good about where they live, with that figure soaring to over 78% among 25- to 34-year-olds.
Mary Portas OBE, retail expert and Thrive Street curator, said:
“Small and growing businesses are the beating heart of our economy and the soul of our communities. They bring creativity, culture, and character to our high streets – and they need more than applause; they need real support. That’s why we created Thrive Street 2025 together with Mastercard and Worldpay. A space where brilliant independent brands can come together, be seen, be supported, and show the world what the future of business truly looks like.”
