Follow your nose to a unique food market  Photo: Gaz Frazer

London’s pioneering night market Street Feast has a new outdoor home at Dalston Yard. The Street Food community is around for eight weeks of the summer following last year’s success at Haggerston’s Merchant Yard.

Every Friday from 5pm, London’s nomadic street food circus opens with a dazzling array of street food traders. Saturdays at Dalston Yard start at noon with activities and workshops for kids, cocktail master classes in the afternoon and DJs playing throughout the day. Entrance is free to spend London’s summer time eating and drinking in an alternative environment.

Launched in May 2012, this unique haven for lovers of great food and drink has since taken over warehouses, breweries and old Tube stations as it roves from stop to stop. With 15-20 different menus to choose from at each event, there is plenty of variety on offer to its large following.

Dalston Yard, even though a stones-throw from Dalston Junction station, is not so easy to find, and like all pop-ups you’ve got to have your wits about you to find it.

A small alley, minded by one security person leads you down off the main road and into the yard. On arrival you will notice the skeletal framework of an old warehouse. Large containers are packed side by side around the outer rim and amongst them food stall and bars. There is a large main bar, by Rotary, in the centre of Street Feast and a number of cheeky little bars hidden in quirky locations. This just might be the first time you’ve tried an Old Fashioned from a plastic cup and definitely the first you’ve had a pipe-smoking lesson in public.

Popular food vendors were Mamas Jerk, Rola Wala, Cheeky Italian and Yum Jungle. Ena, one of the organisers from Team Street Feast, said: “I recommend Rola Wala, just look at the queue of people,” adding: “I know that doesn’t look like a queue but that’s how everyone is here; just standing around smiling and talking, whilst waiting to sample the next sensation.”

The feeling of going to Street Feast can be compared to Camden Lock or Brick Lane’s Ely’s Yard, however the distinct difference is the unified atmosphere, and the fact that people are here for the whole night.

Foodie heaven at Dalston yard Photo: Chris McIntosh

Get to Dalston Yard if you’re a foodie, love to sample different cocktails and are looking for inspiration for your next market visit or dinner party.