Borough Market

I've wanted to visit Borough Market for some time, and having finally got there, I wasn't disappointed. It's near to London Bridge (which for many years was the only bridge over the Thames in London). Around a thousand years ago the market was actually on London Bridge! It's moved and the current location is in an area by Southwark Cathedral. There's a wholesale market here every weekday morning and a retail market on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There's the usual range of market stalls, but many are distinctly upmarket like Artisan Foods who sell handmade savoury pastry products, using fresh ingredients, organic flours and free range eggs:

There's also shops like Brindisa

who sell hams and cheeses and other fine foods from Spain.

I'd read an article in the Guardian about about how Network Rail was building a new trainline into London Bridge station and the old market hall will be shut for at least two years:
However I was pleasantly surprised with the new Jubilee market, which is light and airy:
Besides stalls selling ingredients, you can also get a freshly cooked meal such as paella:

or Thai Green curry:

To wash it down you can have traditionally brewed draught New Forest cider:
or perry. They also do a hot mulled cider, mulled with a blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and all spice, ideal on a colder day.

You can buy fudge from the curiously named Burnt Sugar, which the Observer Food Monthly thought was the world's best:

or chocolate truffles from Dark Sugars:

Artist Richard Bramble has been in the market since it first opened for retail customers, and you can buy his food related ceramics, textiles, boards, mats on his stand:

In the next few posts I'll describe some of the greengrocers, butchers, bakers, fishmongers and cheese sellers in Borough Market.

Borough Market

8 Southwark Street

London

SE1 1TL

Tel: 020 7407 1002

Web: www.boroughmarket.org.uk