Loughborough's built-up area had a population of 64,884 at the 2021 Census, a Leicestershire town best known for its university, which sits alongside a market history that stretches back further than almost anywhere else on this list.
A market charter granted in 1221
In 1221, King Henry III — then just nine years old — granted a Royal Charter to Hugh le Despenser, Lord of the Manor of Loughborough, allowing him to hold a weekly Thursday market and an annual fair. The charter was confirmed in 1227 and extended in 1228 to cover further fair days around the Feast of St Peter and the Feast of All Souls. Eight centuries later, the market and fair are still going, now run by the borough council, with a retail market held every Thursday and Saturday and a fair every November. A plaque was unveiled in 2021 to mark 800 continuous years of the tradition — a genuinely rare milestone for any UK market town.
What eight centuries of market history doesn't cover
However long its history, a weekly market is built around what fits on a stall, sold by the bag or the quarter — not a bulk order. There's no 3kg bulk-bag range, no vegan-specific or halal-friendly selection sorted and ready, and no trade cases for a business or an event on offer there. That's a different kind of buying to what any market stall, whatever its age, is set up to hold.
Why Loughborough shoppers order online anyway
For anything beyond a market-day purchase, ordering online and having it delivered is the more consistent option — it doesn't depend on it being a Thursday or a Saturday, and there's no limit on how much you're buying at once.
25,000+ customers, and counting
We've served over 25,000 customers UK-wide, Loughborough included, with most orders dispatched within 1-2 business days. The range covers pick 'n' mix by the bag and tub, bulk bags from 1kg to 3kg, trade cases for events and businesses, vegan and halal-friendly sweets, retro favourites, and full chocolate ranges from the major brands.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver sweets to Loughborough?
Yes — UK-wide, including Loughborough, with most orders dispatched in 1-2 business days.
How old is Loughborough's market?
It dates to a Royal Charter granted in 1221 by King Henry III — a plaque marked 800 years of the market and fair in 2021.
Can I buy bulk or wholesale sweets in Loughborough?
Not from the market — we deliver bulk bags, multipacks and trade cases direct to Loughborough addresses instead.
Browse Pick 'n' Mix and Bulk Bags.