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.
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 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.
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!
"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.
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.
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!
Market stalls operate 10-4pm on Thursday and Fridays and 9-5pm on Sundays.
The mulled wine even rustled up some money for a deserving cause, namely the homeless charity Crisis (located just across from the market). We raised £616.53 altogether.Here are a few shots of the night's proceedings...
This Christmas Old Spitalfields Market’s shopkeepers and traders are asking why not give something different? Something you hadn't thought of and something that isn't 90% cotton, 10% polyester. Why not do your Christmas shopping at Spitalfields and support small shops and independent market traders, selling products they have personally chosen and often designed themselves
Boho jewellery, unusual chairs, gourmet teas, vintage vases, Moroccan teapots, leather handbags, maximalist kitsch, pocket gardens and old-fashioned wooden toys are amongst the many amazing presents on offer.
There’s even an Alternative Christmas Confession Booth where you can get those bad presents off your chest, and a sock amnesty box, too!
The shops and restaurants are open 7 days a week (times vary)
The market stalls are open:
Sunday (full market)
Thursday (antiques and vintage clothes)
Friday (fashion and art)
Liverpool Street (4mins) / Aldgate East (5 mins)
Look out for the folk of Old Spitalfields Market who are starring in the 'Socks Kill Christmas' advertising campaign. They are coming to a tube station near you, very soon!