Indian street food, sourdough pizza and jerk chicken – welcome to Catford’s new food market

A sign at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

A new food market, featuring stalls selling everything from Kolkata street food to vegan cusine and sourdough pizza opened in Catford last Sunday.

The market, organised by community group Team Catford, took place on Catford Broadway from 10am to 4pm and plans to run on the first Sunday of every month.

A variety of stalls, from food and drink, to clothes and plants, were at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

The community gathered to witness the long awaited revival of the Sunday market as traders and independent businesses offered a variety of food, drinks, clothing, plants and homemade accessories.

The market began due to residents of Catford getting involved in a community-wide scheme, which was led by Lewisham council, to further regenerate the area. One of the most highly suggested ideas was a new market.

The market was an opportunity for local tradespeople to showcase their businesses.

Stalls included Raastawala, selling their authentic street food of Kolkata, and the Caribbean flavours of Jerk Off BBQ.

Jerk Off BBQ’s stall and barbecue grill at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Also making an appearance were the cake connoisseurs Brett & Bailey and Miss Flits Vegan Bake, as well as gorgeous sourdough pizza from Van Dough, who cook their pizza in a converted van.

Van Dough, a business that makes sourdough pizza from a converted fan, at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Perlant and Press, another business centred around their van, were at the new market selling refreshing beverages to the crowd that turned up at the event.

Perlant and Press selling beverages and snacks from their van at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Nick Williams, owner of Potted, a new business venture focusing on attractive plants and pots, said: “I think the market is great. It is interesting that it is very clearly trying to do something different to the daily market that is here, and I think that it recognises the changes that are happening in Catford.

“But, I think there is room for both to be successful, and I really hope that this is a good intervention to give Catford a bit of a boost.”

Potted, a stall selling stunning potted plants at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Andrew Lilley of Nooch, a stall specialising in vegan food, said: “We were thrilled to be part of the Catford Food Market. We would like to say a big thanks to Team Catford for giving us the opportunity to be involved.

“It was a fabulous day and it’s by far, the highlight of our recent entry into the world of food stalls!”

Nooch, a business specialising in vegan cuisine. Pic: Team Catford

Available to visitors of the market were seating areas, and toilets and baby changing areas accessible in Costa. This will continue to be the case every day the market is held.

The seating area at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Team Catford, who ran the event, is an organisation that specialises in the urban transformation of Catford, on behalf of Lewisham Council. They lead community engagement in the big changes made to the area and a large part of this involves the placemaking of public spaces, including setting up the latest market.

Team Catford have previously organised events such as the Catford Gin Festival, Catford Beer Festival, and before Christmas, a kid’s craft fair held in one of the units in the shopping centre.

A stall selling unique clothes at Catford Food Market. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

Catford’s new market promises to be a revival of what Catford used to be, garnering a lot of interest from the community.

Note to self: Get down to Catford Food Market earlier than 2pm next time, virtually everything had sold out! 😣 Sign of a successful day’s trading though, well done @CatfordFoodMkt !! #CFM2018

— We Are SE23 (@WeAreSE23) March 25, 2018

Mmmm, enjoy my haul from the new food market, drinking winter berry gin and eating cherry cupcakes. Diet’s gone to the wall today…. #catfordfoodmarket #passthegaviscon #SE6

— Kym Bigwood (@kymbi_) March 25, 2018

@brettandbailey loved the treats I picked up from your stall on Sunday, will definitely be back to get more at the next Catford food market

— Daniel Bell (@danbelluk) March 27, 2018

A stall at Catford Food Market showing the work of local artists and designers. Pic: William Taylor-Gammon

In the summer, the market hopes to hold a jollof rice (one-pot rice dish) competition, which will be the first to occur in the southeast of London. An outdoor cinema showing the latest blockbuster superhero films, such as Wonder Woman, will also happen, as well as various other activities, workshops and music events.