BRIGHTON has a new quirky shopping destination – all thanks to an Australian barmaid.

Former Antipodean pint puller Rachel Hogg dreamt up the idea of opening a city bazaar in which Brighton and Hove’s creative spirits could show off and sell their wares.

That dream came true on Saturday as she opened the North Laine Bazaar, in Upper Gardner Street.

The bazaar has 40 different stalls selling everything from independently produced furniture and upcycled vintage wares to handmade jewellery and even clothing.

Despite only opening at the wekeend nearly all the stalls are already taken.

Miss Hogg, who runs the bazaar along with her partner, Steve Savage, said: “I’ve always been a huge charity shop fan and we love second hand recycling.

“There’s such a great creative community in this area, so when the space became available, we decided to just go for it.”

Miss Hogg moved to the UK ten years ago and was, until recently, working as a barmaid at the Bedford Tavern in Western Street, Hove.

She is well known on the pub scene have won Brighton’s LGBT-friendly Golden Handbags award for Best Bar Girl on numerous occasions.

She said the idea to set up the bazaar – a permantly covered marketplace – was to display the widespread creativity the city has to offer.

She said: “I’m very proud to provide this place where people can run their businesses.”

One stallholder in the bazaar, Jason Bennett, has been trading for 20 years. He said: “It’s already a great place to work – there’s a brilliant vibe and the other stallholders are so friendly.

“I can really see it as being a little creative hub.”

The bazaar is likely to see plenty of footfall, owing to the longstanding street market that is held every Saturday.

It will open every day. From Monday to Friday it will open from 10am to 5pm, on Saturdays it will open from 10am to 5.30pm and Sundays from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

A vintage clothing and accessories shop will open on the first floor on December 1.

Eventually, Miss Hogg wants to open a garden centre at the rear of the bazaar.