Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets

[Gavster]

Okay it's a bit niche, but the corporation of London has decided to close these markets in 2028 and has cancelled the plans to relocate them to Dagenham too. This is incredibly sad news and it's killing off part of London's heritage. Smithfield is based on a field (Smooth field) that started out as a market around 900 years. Billingsgate's first location along from the Tower of London started as trading site on the banks of the Thames around 1,000 years ago.

For the first time in nearly a thousand years, London will no longer have wholesale meat or fish markets, it's literally the end of a rich part of London's food culture.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje050wz22qo

[Jobbo]

Oh wow, that is tragically sad. They were part of the fabric of the City.

[Rich B]

Oh wow, that is tragically sad. They were part of the fabric of the City.

i understand what you did there…

[Mito Man]

It’s crazy they couldn’t find an alternative. Supposedly they were both going to be moved to Dagenham but the cost is too much now. I don’t know how what is essentially a large warehouse would have cost over £1 billion

[GG.]

Oddly I never went to fabric but I did train and spent my first few years post qualification at a firm on Holborn Viaduct so the area around Smithfields brings back a hell of a lot of memories for me. It will be interesting to see what they make of it but London is certainly is losing a huge part of its heritage. Presumably the building itself cannot be demolished...

[Gavster]

IIRC I've spent quite a lot of time in Fabric over the years, although it's all a bit hazy

Smithfield market halls are an iconic bit of London architecture designed by Sir Horace Jones who also designed the original Billingsgate, Leadenhall, plus a little bridge called Tower Bridge. The site will be redeveloped into something pretty cool no doubt.

I love these markets so much, honestly can't beat wandering around them in the middle of the night, they're all like some kind of nocturnal alien world.

[Rich B]

i spent many nights at fabric back in the day - the market was always doing stuff at 6-7am when i left!

[Mito Man]

Smithfield markets will turn into The London Museum
https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/smithfield/
Ok it’s cool but makes no sense how it’s financially a better solution that just leaving the market there.

[dinny_g]

Always found Fabric a little overrated. Went to a number of Sasha nights but always over crowded, uncomfortable etc.

Can’t believe those markets are closing

[Simon]

Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, said the decision represented a "positive new chapter" for the markets as it "empowers traders to build a sustainable future in premises that align with their long-term business goals".

He added: "By stepping back from direct market operations, we will help to create opportunities for these businesses to thrive independently.

Sounds rather like 'by pushing these people out of a plane without a parachute we've empowered them to learn how to grow wings and fly'.

[Jobbo]

Oh wow, that is tragically sad. They were part of the fabric of the City.

i understand what you did there…

That must have been my subconscious at work because I never went to Fabric For most of my time in London I worked either near Smithfield or Billingsgate though so I walked past them very often.

[V8Granite]

The mother in laws father was a butcher at Smithsfield along with her grandfather. Really really sad and a big tradition and way of doing business will be lost.

Stupid decision which has placed money over history.

Dave!

[dinny_g]

It’s all Boris’s fault… probably

[DaveE]

Oh wow, that is tragically sad. They were part of the fabric of the City.

i understand what you did there…

Me too - top marks!

[Gavster]

It’s all Boris’s fault… probably

Seriously I do wonder who led this. The move to Dagenham has been in the wings for up to 10 years, that article said they've spent £300m on the site already. Howveer, I don't know who runs the corporation of London and makes decisions for it.

Oh, and the new (current) Billingsgate site near Canary Wharf in Tower Hamlets is leased to the City of London for the annual rent of "one fish"

[dinny_g]

It’s all Boris’s fault… probably

The move to Dagenham has been in the wings for up to 10 years

And yet Johnson did NOTHING to stop this during is time as Prime Minister... etc

[Swervin_Mervin]

It’s all Boris’s fault… probably

Seriously I do wonder who led this. The move to Dagenham has been in the wings for up to 10 years, that article said they've spent £300m on the site already. Howveer, I don't know who runs the corporation of London and makes decisions for it.

Oh, and the new (current) Billingsgate site near Canary Wharf in Tower Hamlets is leased to the City of London for the annual rent of "one fish"

From what I read the other day the markets have been in decline anyway. Changing trading habits (online sourcing for example), ULEZ, general congestion etc. Some of the traders themselves suggested that the location simply wasn't that viable anymore.

It seems pretty sad to me though - they're renowned the world over and must even pull tourists in.

[Mito Man]

Peak government right there. Make life difficult for everyone with ULEZ, road restrictions and permanent closures making it unviable for many businesses. Source a new site which goes horrifically over budget and gets scrapped after a bunch of money is wasted.
If they’re really lucky piss some more money away on an inquiry wondering where it all went wrong

[Gavster]

It’s all Boris’s fault… probably

Seriously I do wonder who led this. The move to Dagenham has been in the wings for up to 10 years, that article said they've spent £300m on the site already. Howveer, I don't know who runs the corporation of London and makes decisions for it.

Oh, and the new (current) Billingsgate site near Canary Wharf in Tower Hamlets is leased to the City of London for the annual rent of "one fish"

From what I read the other day the markets have been in decline anyway. Changing trading habits (online sourcing for example), ULEZ, general congestion etc. Some of the traders themselves suggested that the location simply wasn't that viable anymore.

It seems pretty sad to me though - they're renowned the world over and must even pull tourists in.

There is some truth to that, Billingsgate has changed loads since I first went about 20 years ago. Fewer traders, changing customer base, the traders and their offerings changed too. Also Smithfield is woefully suited to lots of large lorries, vans etc. It was designed when horse and cart was the primary means of transport and we all know that's simply not suited to modern transport.

[IanF]

Think their days were numbered the minute vac-packed arrived and vehicles could drive from farms/coast

I wonder who will build the houses and what ratio are going to be affordable homes? Zed may get to see his belief about gov (well, council) building homes tested and how “affordable” they keep them.. ofcourse, having wasted over £300m on developing the new site, I’m expecting the homes to be 60sqm, crooked and cost £2m each!