Lewisham embraces new Brockley Market

Brockley Market

Brockley Market. Photo by Glenn Mottershead

A new weekly market inaugurated on September 24 will bring local food produce to Lewisham College’s car park every Saturday. On its first day, Brockley Market attracted 2,017 people and hosted 19 different stalls.


Toby Allen, the organiser who came up with the idea and turned it into reality says: “Without even a High Street to turn to, there is a lack of seasonal fresh quality produce in the area. There are some really great markets like Deptford and Lewisham markets, but this one is concentrating more on small, independent producers.”

Apart from providing its car park, Lewisham College is also involved in the marketing aspect of the endeavour.  Last Saturday, the College’s Business students gave out promotional material in local stations, filled-in questionnaires and talked with the stall-holders and the public. Allen says their feedback will help the market evolve. Future plans may also include  students setting up their own stalls.

Allen is hoping to get people into the habit of shopping weekly at the market for most of their fresh food. “It’s not all about organic produce or anything like that, we’re trying to get a mix so people with various budgets can buy seasonal, fresh food which has been grown locally.”

“There is also a social element, because the community is there,” he says. Indeed, other London markets, like Broadway or Stoke Newington market have become the meeting place of local communities setting an example for others to follow.

The first event had only one art stall with the rest selling food, but that may change in the future. The number of stalls is also expected to increase.

Brockley Market : Lewisham College car park, Lewisham Way, SE4 1UT, every Saturday 10am-2pm. Payments only by cash.

 

 

 

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