Barrow boys have been welcoming shoppers to Broadway Market in Hackney since the 1890s, selling everything from bacon to beans. John and his mate Tony (pictured right) may be the last in the line. John started selling fruit and veg on the market nearly 50 years ago. He traded through the eighties' crash, now his barrows are the centrepiece of the revived Saturday market. He embodies today's principles of quality, speciality and variety.
There are 100 more stalls to welcome you. And while they don't all seek to match John's competitive prices, they all offer something special, and they all offer one thing for free: a welcoming smile.
Most stalls are open from 9am-5pm on Saturdays, but John starts serving much earlier.
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24th Jan 2012
Roadworks due to start at the beginning of February. Waiting for plan and schedule.
18th Jan 2012
"Broadway Market ... is an example of what can be achieved with local determination and drive ... it has been a great success."
Meg Hillier, our local MP, in the Commons debate on the future of local high streets following the Mary Portas report, 17 January.
Catch up with the debate at bit.ly/zP4lHM.
18th Jan 2012
Hackney Council planners are now finalising their design for the rebuilding of Broadway Market. We will publish updates as soon as we get them.
Work is expected to start before the end of January. We are assured that roadworks will be phased to minimise the inevitable disruption. The Saturday market will continue, almost as normal.
Here is the version of the plan sent out for consultation last month.
This is more than a makeover, it represents the rebirth of the street: the creation of a shared space from the canal end to the junction with London Fields.
Broadway Market Traders' and Residents' Association has been pressing for this rebuild for several years and is broadly in favour of the plans. The new toilets on London Fields are especially welcome. But details may prove controversial.
The green circles represent proposed trees. The faint white dotted lines are parking spaces. The brown snake at the northern end marks vehicular access between Broadway Market and Westgate Street. The large circle at the Welshpool Street/Benjamin Close junction is a performance area.
30th Nov 2011
Why you like Broadway Market, what you don't like, why you come here: the answers to these vital questions, and many more, are in the results of this year's customer survey now online here.
8th Nov 2011
This from the Christmas shopping guide in Living etc. magazine.
7th Nov 2011
The company's annual report and accounts for 2010-2011 are now available in the Contact section of this site.
7th Oct 2011
“Broadway is a magical market … enduring friendships … devoted regulars.” Jamie Oliver’s food magazine tells stall tales. Here’s the whole report, with thanks to the people at Jamie Magazine (jamiemagazine.com).
26th Jul 2011
Broadway Market features as one of London’s finest food markets in Time Out’s top 101 list of places to go and sights to see. A click on the badge above will take you there. The map in the Contacts section of this site will guide you to us in time for lunch.
26th May 2011
Broadway Market is now by law a traffic-free zone from 6am to 6pm on Saturdays. The measure has been introduced by our friends at Hackney Council to protect the public as well stallholders and the stalls crew while the market is being built and cleared away. Our biggest problems are parked cars which cause severe obstructions - and danger to the public when owners try to drive away through the crowds and across pavements - and cyclists who ride through the street. So cyclists, please consider the safety of others and dismount. It is illegal to ride through the market at these times.
23rd May 2011
Welcome to our new website. We now have a live Twitter feed and news section, an improved online stalls application system and a whole new page on Broadway Market’s shops. We hope you like it.
Links to Facebook, Twitter and email are at the bottom of the page. Facebook will continue to be open to all and we welcome comments and news - if you would like your news or opinion to be included in this column, please email us.
The site has been refashioned by Hugh Williams at DUNK in the great tradition of Ronny Ellefsen at tapeinteractive.com and Sam Thompson at shrinkpad.com. Special thanks to Rupert Selby at Off Broadway for the extraordinary effort he has put into listing the shops.
