Toulouse: what future for the nightlife of the Saint-Cyprien market, which canceled its Thursday event?

Times are complicated for the nightlife markets of Toulouse, which are experiencing the paradox of attracting huge numbers of people while failing to make a profit. That of the Carmes has had to cancel three times in recent months, strangled by the constraints imposed by the “major event” category to which it belongs, due to its capacity exceeding 10,000 visitors. That of Victor-Hugo, prey to the same torments, tried a new formula in September, with VIP access for 2,000 people and a reduced capacity. But the perfect recipe still hasn’t been found.

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Smaller in size, the Saint-Cyprien market was forced, in turn, to cancel its fourth night of the year, scheduled for this Thursday, November 7. After successful editions in April, June and September, with 3,000 visitors on average, the Halles de la Rive Gauche decided not to repeat the experience, “with regret”, for budgetary reasons. In question, the disappearance of subsidies from the CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry), which until then granted them an envelope capped at €6,000 over the year. “We no longer have money for this type of event. To organize a night, you need a budget of around €7,000 to €9,000, for security, the Red Cross and toilets in particular,” explains Alain Pignol, president of the Association of Traders of Les Halles de Saint-Cyprien and also manager of the Bar des Vedettes This year, we found ourselves in the water with three events organized and €6,000 less. We would have had to ask for a contribution. additional to traders… We might as well tell you that there weren’t many volunteers. It’s deplorable because we’re a small neighborhood market, we don’t have the same problems as the other two.”

To try to renew itself, Saint-Cyprien organized for the first time a gourmet market in October: 300 people around a giant cassoulet, for an evening dedicated to “eating well”, with local products provided by local traders. Halles. A profitable event, this one, provided you seek out partners. The process is more time-consuming and the state of mind is different.

This “sponsorship” could well apply to nightlife too, it is in any case a solution envisaged by Alain Pignol. “We will see, next year, if we have more means to organize one,” he wonders. “Either we have help from the town hall and the CCI, or we call on private individuals : banks, wine groups, etc. But it would be a shame to get to that point, because the initial project is an activity within the framework of a market, aimed at young people and local customers. “It’s more like a village festival.”

The president of the traders of Les Halles de Saint-Cyprien plans to meet soon Jean-Jacques Bolzan, deputy mayor of Toulouse, in order to discuss this problem and try to find a solution.

The Victor-Hugo market will organize its last evening of the year on Wednesday November 27, with the same principle of VIP access and restaurants open on the first floor.