Hoteliers, restauraunteurs, chefs and press are among those
invited to meet Borough Market wholesalers on Wednesday 21
st February 2007 at 10.00am.
The event includes a tour of the Market and tasting of
wholesale produce, followed by a reception.
Admittance is by invitation only. Please contact
juliet@boroughmarket.org.uk.
Borough Market recently won a top award at the ‘urban
Oscars’. The
Evening Standard
reported that ‘the thriving market, which has been near London
Bridge station for more than 1,000
years, claimed first prize in the ‘Great
Place’ section of the
Academy of Urbanism Awards.’
‘It was praised for its accessibility and popularity and
described by the academy as “a neighbourhood, city and national attraction
drawing in a mix of local people, traders, visitors and tourists”.'
The Academy
of Urbanism has
commissioned a poet to write a few verses about the historic market.The
South London Press
reported that: ‘The poem will be published in an academy book and was put
on a CD presented to representatives of Borough Market and other award-winning
public spaces last Friday.’
‘Market manager Chris Denning said: "The traders have a
few choice words, a bit of cockney rhyming slang, but never poetry. "I
don't think they will be getting into the rhyme meter and stanzas while
selling. "We're immensely proud to have won this award and will continue
to work hard to provide one of the best markets in the UK."’
While Borough Market continues to thrive, Angela
Balakrishnan wrote in
The Guardian that
other markets are finding it less easy. ‘The average stall occupancy rates are
75% and falling. An all-party parliamentary committee reported that with 20% of
all independent shops closing between 2000 and 2004, independent retailing may
die out before 2015 if urgent action is not taken.’