Stoke Newington Farmers Market
The days when milkmaids wandered the streets of central London are long gone. But farmers’ markets still offer Londoners the opportunity to come face to face with food producers – and get fresh fruit, meat and veg as well as selection of goodies such as pies and cakes.
Stoke Newington Farmers Market takes over the playground of William Patten Primary School in Church Street on Saturdays. And unlike many other farmer’ markets, it’s all organic (except for wild and biodynamic produce).With a 100 mile catchment area it features producers from Kent and Essex – as well as having a Caribbean food stall.
When I moved to Stokey back in the early 90s it was still a rough and very diverse area, with Turks, Kurds, West Indians and Africans mixed in with media people and students. It’s since become rather yuppie – house prices have shot up – and I’m afraid the farmers’ market does rather echo that with its pricing, which is a tad high even for London. However, the market’s still got a great vibe and even greater cakes, for which alone I think it’s worth visiting!
My other Hackney food favourite, though, if you take the 149 back towards Liverpool Street, is quite different - Ridley Road Market. This market is open all week, and on Saturdays 9-5, so you can head there after the farmers’ market.
There’s loads of Asian, African and other ethnic food here – if you like your red snapper and tilapia, eddoes and yams, you’ll find them.
This is a completely different experience from Stokey. No aesthetics – the site is unappealing, some of the stalls ramshackle, and the rubbish starts rustling underfoot about half way through the trading hours; by the end of the day it can look like a tip! But there’s an incredible bustle, lots of opportunity to indulge in a bit of peoplewatching, and the atmosphere is great.
Where: William Patten Primary School, Church Street (buses 73 from Islington/West End and 149 from Liverpool Street)
Ridley Road, E8 (Dalston Kingsland train station)
When: Farmers’ market, 10-2, Saturday
Ridley Road, Mon-Wed 9-3, Thurs 9-12, Fri-Sat 9-5
Photo credit: John Bell on flickr
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