Shining a media spotlight on Doncaster Corn Exchange

Over the last two years, the team at Market Asset Management (MAM) have worked closely with Doncaster Council on the extensive £5 million renovation of the city’s historic Corn Exchange, which was made possible through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.  Originally built in 1875 as a concert hall and marketplace, the Grade II-listed building has been restored and reimagined as a vibrant retail destination and central events hub for the local community. 

Our client wanted to shine a spotlight on the story behind the heritage restoration and the significance of reopening such an important landmark. As the existing communications partner for the market operator, Yasper’s role was to help drive awareness, secure impactful press coverage, and build anticipation ahead of opening. 

How 

Our approach began with a strategic focus on engaging our contacts within the regional media, in this case, Doncaster specific press as well as the Yorkshire Post. We knew this was more than just another reopening in the city centre, it was a moment to shine a light on such a well-known heritage building.  

Being one of Yasper’s core services, our team led on the media relations activity for the project, helping to position the significant regeneration works within the wider narrative of the city’s regeneration plans and the Corn Exchange’s colourful past. 

We secured early feature opportunities in key regional titles including The Yorkshire Post and Doncaster Free Press, ensuring the story of the Corn Exchange reached the right audiences with the right tone, while building excitement. We then worked with The Yorkshire Post (YP) Magazine, who commissioned their own in-house photographer to capture bespoke imagery of the space in December 2024. 

With such strong editorial interest from the team at the YP Magazine team and the newspaper itself, Interview opportunities were also arranged for our client's team to reflect on the building’s history.  

Then, as the official reopening approached, we timed additional press activity alongside the team at Doncaster City Council to coincide with key milestones, such as the Mayoral unveiling and the Easter weekend opening of the new Victorian-style shopfronts.  

Results 

The media campaign delivered a flurry of coverage for the project, from prominent articles in flagship regional titles to a successful BBC feature. The drumbeat of press attention helped to create a buzz around the reopening and reaffirm the Corn Exchange as a key part of Doncaster’s history, and the city’s future.  

To maintain momentum, we followed up with a press release to announce the opening of the new business units. This resulted in a further 10 pieces of high-value coverage across print, digital and broadcast – including the BBC – ensuring the Corn Exchange was front and centre in local news cycles during its launch weekend. 

Our team also secured a reflective piece in the Doncaster Free Press showcasing the successful Easter weekend footfall and community response, supported by imagery of bustling crowds and happy traders. 

• Six feature opportunities across The Yorkshire Post, Doncaster Free Press, trade titles, and Yorkshire Business Insider 

• 10 pieces of press release coverage across the regional and national media covering the successful opening weekend  

• Total audience reach of over 1.25million