Forum Topic

Acton Central Food Market - Grand Opening

[IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/30a5avn.jpg[/IMG]Hello everyone!On Saturday the 2nd of April there will be the grand opening of the Acton Central Food Market.From now on every Saturday from 10AM 'till 3PM you can find a range over 30 traders offering organic vegetables and honey, free-range meat, poultry and eggs, freshly baked artisan bread, cakes and savouries, gluten-free products, crafted local beers and international street food.The market will take place at Derwentwater Primary School, Shakespeare Road, W3 6SA.Looking forward to see you all lovely local people!www.finefoodmarkets.co.uk

Dan Marshall ● 3681d59 Comments

Local charity Action West London runs the Market on the Mount wed/thu/frid/sat as a community social enterprise. We used to have London Farmers Market stalls for 18 months but they left because of insufficient sales .We would welcome any stallholders from Acton Central Market.We provide and set up stalls from only £20 a day as we want to encourage start ups/local people/new traders etc. We cater for all members of Acton's diverse communities .As well as low price goods we have stalls with cakes/coffee; indian, lebanese, african food, fresh fish, jewellery, hand- made personalised  cards, Mindfood organic veg etc. Come along and support your local community. www.actionwestlondon.org.uk

John Blackmore ● 3464d

There is a WASPS farmers market every Sunday at Twyford Avenue sports ground. It started two weeks ago. The poster says it is in association with Fine Foods - aren't they the same company as the one at Derwentwater?http://caraealing.org/wasps-farmers-market

Mamta Mertner ● 3469d

I heard that the prices they charged for a pitch were very high, and you had to provide your own marquee and tables, so it put a lot of potential sellers off.Too many hot food stalls and not enough groceries for me.

Gill Hothersall ● 3470d

Maybe something called Acton Central Food Market would have done better if it was in the centre of Acton rather than tucked up a backstreet half a mile away.

Peter Evans ● 3470d

What a pity - maybe too off the beaten track.I went to start with but there is no point in a market where you can't buy a range of fruit and veg and milk, cheese, eggs and bread as standard.And you couldn't, within about a month.

Sara Nathan ● 3470d

Just had an email to say it's not open this week and is closing.  What a real shame. It was never busy when I went and the stalls seem to have dwindled away since the summer. Perhaps it was in the wrong place and should have been monthly as others said in the past.

Apple Leiper ● 3470d

Looks like only 5 stalls tomorrow.If you've decided to stay at home for half term this weekend, pop along to the somewhat bijoux Acton Central Market for some weekend treats.This week we have:Picks Organic - ButcherSlow Bread Co - BakersTaste of Sicily - Sicilian sweets and coffeeRegina - Sardinian charcuterie and hot plateArtisan Dairy - Cheese, milk and eggsMy gut feeling ... use it or lose it

Paul Webster ● 3477d

Rather unfortunate that the re-opening coincides with some of the heaviest rain we've seen in weeks.

John Smith ● 3497d

Sorry for not getting in touch sooner.The Acton Central Food Market will be back at Derwentwater Primary School this Saturday from 10am till 3pm and every Saturday until the 17th Dec.We are happy to be back with old and new traders and hope we get the support we need to keep going.Please tell your friends and neighbours about the market and we look forward to seeing you this Saturday.

Dan Marshall ● 3502d

Oh great, I thought it had gone for ever!

Chris Hurley ● 3502d

Market returns this Saturday right up until Christmas!  I am very happy about this.

Apple Leiper ● 3502d

On twitter - no reply - but they have posted saying they are starting a new one in Battersea... weekdays apparently

Sara Nathan ● 3509d

I emailed them a week or so ago and have not had a reply.  Not looking good.

Anne Brown ● 3509d

Although it is still on their page for traders to apply tohttp://www.finefoodmarkets.co.uk/trader-application/Abut it refers to discount for first few weeks ... so looks like they do not keep site up to date.I had no reply to my query to them via Twitter.

Paul Webster ● 3510d

I looked on the finefoods website the other week and it only mentions th e Wandsworth market now. Which is strange.

Apple Leiper ● 3510d

Wasn't open yesterday...playground all locked up.

Tom Hourigan ● 3510d

I've seen more posters around this week so maybe that's right

Sara Nathan ● 3511d

I'm pretty sure they will be there on Saturday 17th September as a trader said he was going to have his first day there.

James Feth ● 3517d

From their email of end of July I had expected them to be back on first weekend of September and we have had 2 now.Here is what that email said:"Dear shoppers,Everyone has gone away on holiday so we thought we'd do the same and give our beloved traders a well earned rest so the Acton Central Food Market will be closed this weekend until September when we will be back with a our usual and new line up of quality traders.  Have a great summer everyone and see you soon!"I've sent a question about it to them today.

Paul Webster ● 3517d

It was closed last Saturday too.  Did it close when the school closed?  Not sure whether it will reopen now?I heard they were charging quite a lot for a pitch and expecting stall holders to provide their own tables and marquee.  Maybe that has priced some people out.

Gill Hothersall ● 3517d

What's happened to the food market now?  Walked past earlier and the school gates were locked - have the organisers given up or are they deliberately not trading on what they know will be wet days?

John Smith ● 3518d

I popped in this morning (having only previously been in during the afternoon) and again it was fairly quiet - more stallholders than customers. I overheard one of the traders say 'some had pulled out' so clearly there's a recognised issue with footfall.I'd recommend making it a monthly event - make people want to go.

John Smith ● 3616d

That would be good - do report - i won't be there (missing the asparagus already!)

Sara Nathan ● 3621d

Isn't it also half-term when a lot of families go away?Hopefully it will be better next week.

Philippa Bond ● 3621d

Unfortunately the promised "over 30 stalls" only materialised in week one.I went at around two and bought some lovely asparagus and a slice of not ace cake. And the fabulous tomato stall was there. But there were almost no stalls: no eggs, scotch eggs, beer, wine, galettes, decent coffee, olives, milk.It's quite hard to actually shop there.

Sara Nathan ● 3622d

I went yesterday around 2pm. It as rather sad looking - hardly any stalls or people. I am hoping that there was a mad rush earlier and everyone sold out, packed up and went home.....

Chris Hurley ● 3622d

I'm not going to talk about anything 'negative' about this market. It's in its 6th week? I've gone every time but one. I have myself a breakfast bap thats delicious and a cup of coffee while I sit at one of the picnic tables people watching and listening to the music. Then I go to the cheese stall which is out of this world. Grab a quiche from another stall, a Scotch egg from yet another stall, wonderful mix of lettuce from yet another stall.. and on and on. I HATE the mount market. Other than the wonderful food stalls, I can't stand seeing stall upon stall of cheap crap clothing. (I realise in a way it's necessary 'cause Acton has hardly any clothing shops).I will not moan about the Saturday market. Just go, make the best of it, and support it. We NEED it in Acton.

Howard Davidson ● 3637d

No fish stall.Also no eggs, no milk and hardly any veg. And no beer or wine or tea.But the tomatoes are ace as are the pears at £1 a bag and the asparagus. Plus good bread and cheese and cakes.The galettes make a lovely lunch and people rave about the scotch eggs. There's also Thai street food and faintly Indian and Italian and middle-easternish.There were a lot of people there around 1300 having lunch in the sunshine - but there arent enough straight market stalls really.

Sara Nathan ● 3637d

also a great coffee and cake stall (Martine's coffee & cakes on Instagram at @martinesinlondon) now every saturday at Action West London's Market on the Mount+ Dr Bike there today

John Blackmore ● 3637d

Nope. There is one at the Market Outside Morrison's.

Tony Crumpton ● 3637d

Is there a fish stall yet?

Chris Hurley ● 3637d

The market looked a bit quiet when I went at 10.30 today. Hope it got more busy later on.

Tony Crumpton ● 3637d

It was quite jolly around noon...some stalls missing as it was a bank holiday but quite a few there.More serving food to eat there than I recall from my first visit: Thai, Indian, Italian.Great tomatoes but just not enough other vegetables. I am NOT going to make nettle soup.

Sara Nathan ● 3649d

Went along on Saturday (admittedly towards the end of the day) and was disappointed compared to week one - far fewer stalls, not much trade, looked all a bit sad.

John Smith ● 3649d

There is  now a Fish Stall at the Market on the Mount. Spoke to the chaps today and they are there for the 4 days of the Market. Bought some lovely Fresh Mackeral. They also had Sea Bream and Salmon.

Tony Crumpton ● 3658d

No. Perhaps contact the organisers. I may do the same!

Apple Leiper ● 3658d

Is there a fish stall yet?

Chris Hurley ● 3658d

Finally made it to the market this afternoon. Absolutely fantastic. So much better than Dukes Meadow. Nice not to have to cart all the apple juice back from Chiswick. Lovely friendly stallholders. Very tasty hot food. Came home stuffed, with dinner(haggis and black pudding scotch eggs) and delicious treats for everyone. The rhubarb macarons are beautiful. The only thing I wish was there was a veg stall. Have eaten half the tomatoes already!!

Apple Leiper ● 3658d

What left-wing agenda?That's such rubbish.I think we should do more for desperate refugees - but would describe that as a humanitarian agenda.But I don't support, let alone belong to, any party and haven't since about 1982.

Sara Nathan ● 3660d

Are you referring to her joke about the Archers.. Hardly left wing rhetoric

Clare Gittins ● 3660d

Why does Sara always have a left wing agenda ? Every comment she twists it ! A simple comment about a village led her to a rant about domestic abuse ????? You are getting really bring ! Yawn zzz!

Dennis Brogan ● 3661d

Hadn't seen the fish stall - which days is he there?I only really shop at the card stall - which is great - as mostly I don't want "stuff" - apart from cards - or fast food. I do want good quality breads, cheeses, fruits, asparagus, oh please, asparagus and went to the food market on the mount every week for all that. Such a shame when it closed.Aren't the two markets now targeting very different demographics?

Sara Nathan ● 3665d

Hi Sarah-Yes Martin's fish stall at Acton Market was great and he caught his own fish! -  have you checked out the new fish stall at the Market on the Mount -really good value and wild sea bass and red snapper. Action West London brought London Farmers Market to the general market on Saturdays for 2 years but the trade at the time wasn't enough for stall holders unfortunately-but Acton Market is still busy Weds-Saturdays with some good ethnic food and a mix of low cost and crafts stalls which we are adding to.

John Blackmore ● 3667d

A fish stall - now you are talking.The farmers' market on the mount was never the same when martin the fishmonger stopped attending - he was such a draw.

Sara Nathan ● 3672d

I wasn't able to go last week but was there first thing this morning. Really liked it. Had a terrific egg and sausage roll. Enjoyed a good latte, did  some shopping for lunch and just sat and people watched. Let's hope this works. I heard there's going to be a fish stall and possibly a smoked fish stall!

Howard Davidson ● 3672d

Second week and my first visit.Feels very jolly though possibly not as busy as the first week.Choice of bread and cake stalls, other bakery,  an eggs and potatoes, apples and rhubarb, choice of cheese stall, park & bridge refills, the famed scotch eggs selling like hot cakes(!)Plus coffee and a range of food to eat there. But no milk!Do support it if you want it to last....

Sara Nathan ● 3672d

I thought the market was great and can see me going every week if I am around.  I wish I had not gone to the supermarket on Friday evening as there were lots more things I would have bought at the market.

Sarah Woolway ● 3676d

Thought it was a great addition to acton - will definitely be back.Loved the foodstalls in particular the vietnamese one.

Alison Taylor ● 3677d

Fantastic Addition to Acton.. I'd very much like it to be weekly than monthly.. I bought goose eggs, chicken sausages (absolutely yummy) and of course the multi-coloured tomatoes. Fresh food, awesome coffee, booze stalls, hot food what more to ask for! I am definitely going there again.. and again!

Sandeep Mestry ● 3677d

Ah, now, I want to try the black pudding Scotch eggs, having heard about them on the Archers.

Susan Kelly ● 3678d

Great stalls - more are bound to follow, hopefully anyway ! 2 booze stalls - like it!Good organic butchers (venison burgers were superb/lamb not yet consumed!)Cheese - excellentGood coffee (hence didn't try the tea)A real step up from the usual collection of stalls at the London Farmers Markets group of "we all do the same"Back again next Saturday and it's only a short walk from Chiswick

Don Tanswell ● 3678d

The organisers could not have asked for a better day with the weather. I would certainly go again but I agree with Chris whether it is sustainable on a weekly basis. I will do my bit as the black pudding scotch eggs were yum . I will try the haggis one next week . I do hope though it is a success.

Claire Rutland ● 3678d

Yes it was very well attended, partly because it was a lovely sunny day. I bought bread, tomatoes  (amazing colours!) scotch egg, olives and cheese straws. I could have bought a lot more! I would definitely go again but I'm not sure how sustainable having it weekly will be. I hope I am proved wrong but monthly might be better for Acton?

Chris Hurley ● 3678d

We popped in for a while.  Excellent tomatoes including some pretty multi coloured ones.  Also got some olives and feta-stuffed peppers, some potatoes, apples and apple juice.  That all sounds amazingly healthy but I will admit to buying a lovely s'mores cookie also!

Gill Hothersall ● 3678d

Excellent addition to Acton. .support .we need this sort of thing

Peter Truesdale ● 3679d

Come on chaps...a complete report on the first day please - from every angle.Was it well-attended?Was there lots you might want to buy?How were the fears about congestion etc.Would you go again?

Sara Nathan ● 3679d

I am actually really worried about it as no one seems to have given any thought to the noise, smells and traffic = hence impact on neighbouring properties. No one from the school, council or market even bothered to ask us what we thought or tell us it was happening. Surely improving The Mount would be a better approach.

Sue Buchan ● 3680d

So sorry to be missing this as away at the weekend. But look forward to trying everything next week.Hope it goes really well.

Sara Nathan ● 3681d

I for one am really excited about this and hope it doesn't end up being another market where nothing is sold except crappy clothing and fake expensive perfumes etc.

Howard Davidson ● 3681d