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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Latest News
13th Feb 2012
The rebuilding of Broadway Market has begun: the section from the junction with Duncan Road to the junction with Ada Street is now a pedestrian zone: no traffic except for deliveries (and the occasional bulldozer) and please, no cycling.
Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants are open as usual seven days a week.
Roadworks will be cleared as quickly as possible to increase space for pedestrians. More areas will be opened on Friday nights in preparation for busy weekends.
Saturday market stalls in this section of the street are moving to Benjamin Close when necessary. Watch out for posters and flyers with maps.
The first section of the street should be rebuilt by the end of April. Then the works will move on to a second section.
By early June, we should have a new Broadway Market.
Here is the version of the plan sent out for consultation in December. We will post the council's final plan when we receive it.
Here is BMTRA's response to the consultation: the Council has yet to tell us how they they have taken our views into account.
We were briefed on the major changes to the roadworks schedule on Wednesday, 1 February. There has been no consultation.
29th Jan 2012
People were invited to complete the following Christmas jingle:
It was Christmas Eve on the market
The busiest time of the year ...
The judges have sifted a small snowstorm of entries and are delighted to announce the following winners.
First prize: John Taylor, £30 voucher to spend at L'Eau a la Bouche;
Second prize: Patsy Hanna, £20 voucher to spend at Broadway Bookshop;
Third prize: Phil Price. £10 voucher to spend at Off Broadway.
Winners are being notified by email. Here are the jingles.
Our thanks to everyone who entered the competition, to the judges and especially to the Broadway Market retailers for entering into the Christmas spirit.
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.
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.
