Is it true that L. Booths fruit and veg are leaving Borough Market? Such a shame if that is the case. The quality of the produce and the knowledge of the owner, Tony was part of what made the market so good. Anybody know the reason for their departure?
yes it is true! Apparantly the management of the market has put up the rent and they are leaving. Some others will follow it seems the atmosphere is very bad between the standholders and the Borough Market management.
I was being told by some of the standholders that due to the new concept - perhaps they would like to change the strategie and make it a tourist market, this I do not know - a lot of the regular customers are not coming back anymore and they do not sell enough as tourists do not buy food to cook.
Rhodes bread has also gone and I do know of two others they will also leave by end of the year. Pitty.
The good news is Tony will open his fruit and veg stall somewhere in the arches of London Bridge, probably near Druid Street.
I've lived in the area for 8 years and it's apparent to me that the market caters increasingly to tourists. On the face of it it doesn't sound like a problem, however, they are non-repeat customers who want to snack or take him non perishable food - the opposite of what most local shoppers are after.
I wrote to the trustees a year ago to say that there were no less than 8 places to buy burgers there on one hot Saturday which seemed excessive. I received no reply. On the rare occasions I go the crowds and queues for smoothies, espressos and jamon don't help with lugging round bags of fruit and veg.
What a crying shame its companies like Booths that stop Borough Market being a theme park
Over the past 14 years they have got me and my food stylists out of more trouble than I care to
mention,what he doesn't know about ceps isn't worth knowing.
Sidi, I think you'd be wasting your time. The market management appear to be on some megalomaniac power trip at the moment. Speaking to a few traders there, it seems that all is not well.
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