Christmas Trading Hours

Old Spitalfields Market now has the market stalls up and trading 6 days a week for all you bargain hunters out there, so we hope you are making the most of it! The stalls will continue to trade right up to Christmas Eve for anyone who needs that last minute present that they have forgotten. It will then close for Christmas, re-opening, as is the tradition, on Sunday 28 December.

That is not to say that all the shops and restaurants are following suit so for full details of individual tenants opening hours please do check their own website.
There are a wealth of shops surrounding the market hall i.e. Agnes B, Sniff and OneDeko, all with hidden gems on offer so don't forget them when you visit.

The market stalls revert to their traditional trading hours from Friday 2 January with the fashion and design market.

Shops open 7 days a week, generally from 11am to 6/7pm
Market stalls trading Sunday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm (except Thursday when the market opens at 8am)

A TeaSmith and Nuno Mendes Experience

TeaSmith has invited Nuno Mendes, of the uber-fashionable Bacchus and one of the hottest young chefs around to present his creations exclusively for their Tea & Fine Food Pairing evening.

This is a unique opportunity to experience and explore how the aromas, tastes and textures of exceptional teas enhance fine cuisine and stretch the boundaries and beliefs of traditional tea drinkers.

Advance bookings only.
To purchase tickets please call, email or stop by the shop.

Taking Place at the TeaSmith tea bar
November 18th, 7-9pm
6 Lamb Street, Old Spitalfields Market
0207 247 1333info@teasmith.co.uk

DARE PROTOPLAY TAKES OVER LONDON’S OLD SPITALFIELDS MARKET

Following the hugely successful event in Edinburgh earlier this year, Dare ProtoPlay, where the public can play newly designed video-games, is now coming to Old Spitalfields Market, London as part of the London Games Festival.

Dare ProtoPlay 2008, in association with Channel 4, is the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, the UK’s premier video games design competition for students who love to play games and want to design their own. Dare to be Digital, organised and promoted by University of Abertay, is an internationally renowned proving ground for talented computer science and art students to design their own original video game.

Dare ProtoPlay is a yearly video game extravaganza where young, aspiring designers show case their finished game prototypes developed during Dare to be Digital to industry experts and the public. One of the teams will win a coveted BAFTA ‘Ones to Watch’ award. Visitors to Dare ProtoPlay are encouraged to spot the BAFTA winner, to be announced in March 2009.

The upcoming two-day event at Old Spitalfields Market is part of the London Games Festival. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to have an enjoyable free day out, for artists and developers to check out the newest ideas, for students to find out from these university students their career path into the games industry, and for gamers to play 17 new computer games created by upcoming artists and developers. Visitors to Dare ProtoPlay will be able to design their own game characters using the latest interactive pen tablets, play games and also take part in a ‘live storyboard evolution’ where they build their own adventure with professional illustrators.

More information of the event can be found on the Dare to be Digital website: http://www.daretobedigital.com

Christmas Market Trading Hours

As of next week Old Spitalfields Market will have the market stalls up and trading 6 days a week in anticipation of the usual Christmas shopping rush.

Perhaps this year, with all of us feeling the 'credit crunch' London's Best Fashion Market is the place to visit to do your shopping. With Antiques & Retro on Thursdays and Fashion & Design on Fridays plus the record fair on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month, most people's tastes can be catered for, so we are extending this to include a smaller market on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well, of course, as our world renown Sunday market.

As well as the market traders there are a wealth of shops surrounding the market hall i.e. FairyGothMother, Mundo and Bohemia, all with hidden gems on offer so don't forget them when you visit.

Shops open 7 days a week, generally from 11am to 6/7pm
Market stalls trading Sunday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm (except Thursday when the market opens at 8am)

Another new restaurant - Le Bouchon Breton

Le Bouchon Breton, in the style of the grand old Parisian brasseries, is now open for trade.

Le Bouchon offers a 200-cover restaurant and a decadent 50 cover champagne and seafood bar as well as the stunning all year round terrace bar and alfresco dining area which overlooks the hustle and bustle of Old Spitalfields Market below.

With Ian Stoppani & Michel Roux Jr. the men behind this new venture, the men on the ground are Nicolas Laridan who has spent the last seven years as Head Chef at Le Gavroche along with Francois Bertrand, Le Gavroche’s beloved ex sommelier running the impressive 700 strong wine cellar.

With dishes on offer such as Les terrines et charcuteries, Moules marinieres, Les Crustaces, Escargots de Bourgogne, Salade gourmande, Quenelles de brochet, Soupe de poissons, Bisque de homard, Carre d’agneau, Steak tartare and Rognons de veau, to name but a few, you are surely spoilt for choice here, so do come and enjoy one of the many delights that Le Bouchon has to offer.

Concrete and Glass Arts Festival at Old Spitalfields Market

TeaSmith, a finalist in this year’s Time Out eating and drinking awards is delighted to be hosting, '100 Years of London'. A photographic exhibition by Tim Davies and presented by Through the Pane it is in association with the Concrete & Glass arts festival.

A photographic social history project, the exhibition consists of portraits of Londoners aged 1 to 100 all with a story to tell or a secret to let slip. . . . . .
Visitors will be provided with the secrets and asked to match a face to each.

TeaSmith will be open from 11am until 10pm on the 2nd and 3rd of October for the launch of the exhibition and 11am till 6pm for the duration of the show. Entrance is free and we hope you will drop by and check it out over a cup of tea.

October 2nd through 17th
11am til 6pm, 7 days a week

TeaSmith, Old Spitalfields Market
6 Lamb Street
London E1 6EA

Square Pie is back in town

Square Pie reopens its doors in Old Spitalfields Market on Wednesday 1st October. If you have never had a Square Pie go to www.squarepie.com to get your half price pie voucher. (Valid from 6 to 12 October). Even if you're an avid fan remember there is a mouth watering and succulent selection on offer including steak & cheese and jerk chicken. ENJOY!

New restaurant openings next week ...

Old Spitalfields Market is delighted to announce the opening of La Tasca Spanish restaurant and bar on Monday 15th September. Come down and sample the authentic and vibrant taste of Spain here in London's Spitalfields.

Then visit us at the weekend and check out Gourmet Burger Kitchen where they have just gone and knocked tradition on the head with their burgers!

These are just two of the exciting new changes going on here at Old Spitalfields Market with many more to follow, so watch this space.......

Another Time Out nomination

We are delighted to announce that our very own Tea Smith has been nominated as a finalist for Time Outs Eating & Drinking Awards 2008 – Best Tea Room! “Explore the world of exceptional teas at TeaSmith's unique tea bar. Some of the world's best teas are prepared in front of customers for the ultimate tea experience. To accompany teas award winning chocolates and cake are served from master chocolatier William Curley”.Try it out at Wollstone Craft Gate in Old Spitalfields Market

WE'RE THE BEST FASHION MARKET!

Old Spitalfields Market has won the 'BEST FASHION MARKET' gong in the Time Out Shopping Awards.

The award, just announced, revealed that Old Spitalfields Market beat the nearest contender Portobello by "an impressive 153 votes". 

Described by the magazine as the "most inspiring style market in London" the market's giving itself a well deserved pat on the back. Market Manager, Eric Graham reacted as follows: "We're absolutely delighted. To come to the end of 3 years of major refurbishment work with a big award under our belt is amazing. It is a tribute to all the hard work and imagination that the stall holders and shop keepers have put in - it's thanks to them that Old Spitalfields Market is still such a brilliant place to visit." We think it's a lot to do with you too Eric!

Thank you to everyone that voted.

TIME OUT SHOPPING AWARD

Old Spitalfields Market has been shortlisted for the 'Best Fashion Market' category in Time Out Magazine's Shopping Awards 2008.

The nomination acknowledges the outstanding fashion offer available in the market's stalls and shops, taking in new designers, vintage treasures, one off accessories and plenty more.

If you would like to vote for the market go to: www.timeout.com/shoppingawards and vote before the deadline on Monday May 12th 2008.

Alternative Fashion Week 21-25 April 2008

Alternative Fashion Week returns to Spitalfields this year. The five day event takes place in the new development right next door to Old Spitalfields Market from Monday 21st - Friday 25th April. 

AFW champions a fresh crop of new innovative designers, with over sixty gifted young things displaying their wares on the catwalk. Themes will include original and recycled textiles across mens' and womens' wear. There will be live music accompaniment and an array of stalls dedicated to a spectrum of fashions and styles from 12 - 3pm every day. Fashion shows start daily at 1.15pm.

Complimenting the show, in the old market there will be the antiques and vintage stalls on Thursday and the fashion and art market on Friday.

 

Restoration works

As you may be aware the refurbishment works inside the market have been going on for some time. The Market Hall is now almost at a point when market stalls can return to trading as usual. We really appreciate your patience during what has been the biggest restoration of the market in the last 120 years.

Although some minor building works are still continuing over the next few weeks, stalls will be permanently back in the market building from Easter Sunday (23rd March).

Market operating days will remain as Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

We look forward to welcoming you very soon!

Taste East

"The future belongs to the East," says this year's Lonely Planet guide, and points to Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Spitalfields as "London's most creative and exciting districts". Naturally, we think that they have hit the nail very squarely on the head.

The Mayor's office loves this side of the city too. From this Thursday until next Tuesday (that's 6th - 11th March) they are holding the second ever EAST festival, which will see events - from ukelele performances to crime writing workshops - taking place in most of the area's leading cultural spaces. Click on www.findeast.co.uk for more.

On the Friday and Saturday, from 12 - 5pm, the western section of Spitalfields will once again be hosting a delicious flagship food event, Taste East. This year they are bringing the very countryside from which our food is sourced to Bishops Square and Crispin Place.

They will have 40+ stalls selling delicious fresh, organic and traditionally prepared food, Canteen will be spit roasting a tasty pig that will be served with apple sauce, and on the Saturday, Spitalfields City Farm are taking over Bishops Square with farm yard animals.

Hay bales, country crafts, wood carving, spinning, felt-making, story-telling, food themed drawing workshops, balloon-makers, glitter tattoos, acoustic music from the Cosmic Sausages and acrobatics from state-of-the-art movement theatre / dance company Mimbre complete the picture - oh, plus an allotment with resident garden advisor.

See www.spitalfields.co.uk for what's on and when. Hope to see you amongst the bales.

Record Fair News

The fortnightly record fair in Old Spitalfields Market has for years been a brilliant place to pick up a rare northern soul 12", or an indiepop CD you always wished you'd bought the only other time you ever saw it, back in 1993.

While the market refurbishment is under way, we've been getting a fair few enquiries about the fair - where can we find it? What days is it on?

Well, throughout February and March, the record fair will still take place every other week, but will be on Fridays rather than Wednesdays, specifically on the following dates:

Friday 8th February

Friday 22nd February

Friday 7th March

Friday 28th March

While there is refurbishment work going on inside the old market area, it will be found in the Spitalfields Traders Market, which is in Crispin Place, just adjacent to the old market. When that work is finished, the fair will move back into its usual spot.

As always, keep an eye on oldspitalfieldsmarket.com for further updates.

Market Stalls

Hello and Happy New Year.

The market refurbishment works are still taking place so that means for a few more weeks the stalls will be operating in the new development next door in Lamb Street on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Sorry for any inconvenience. We'll be back to business as usual soon!