Covent Garden Market

Elan

Hi money-savers, any info?

Nowadays I find I'm bypassing supermarkets for markets to get my groceries. I've been looking at convent garden market and am wondering if anyone has shopped there. What was/is it like?

It looks like a wholesales market, does this mean only business's can shop there? And if I can shop there by my lonesome, how much would I be expecting to pay for groceries, could I actually save money shopping there?

Chris25

I thought Covent Garden was a wholesale flower market?

alanq

New Covent Garden is a wholesale flower fruit and vegetable market in Nine Elms. The old market off the Strand also sold fruit and veg but that closed in the 1980s. Nowadays the old market is a tourist attraction and sells non-food items.

New Covent Garden isn't going to be interested in someone popping in for a kilo of spuds but I believe that members of the public can buy in bulk. (At least I seem to recall a TV show with some folks buying a quantity of flowers to decorate their wedding venue.)

I couldn't see any policy stated on its website.
http://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/

MysteryMe

Berwick St in Soho has a fruit and veg market.
There is also Borough market, near London Bridge.


I doubt they will be particularly cheap but worth a look I guess.

Teahfc

The market pretty much works 02.00 to 09.00.
99% of the traders ( all wholesale) will not supply you with odd boxes here and there and those that did sell you something would do it at a premium price. It costs to get into the market itself .. I think £7-8.00. Stick to street markets for your bargains. London is dripping in them and you will always find something for your budget.

maman

If you want to save money I'd look out an Aldi or Lidl.

chesky

I haven't bought vegetables so can't comment on that, but I have bought flowers on several occasions - it's a different section. I didn't have to pay to get in and most dealers will sell you the odd box of stuff and it IS cheaper. But they're not going to be chatty or into customer service - just hand over the money and p-- off.

I would most definitely NOT recommend Borough Market for a bargain! It's the most expensive place I know to buy food. Great for a visit, but not if you're on a budget.

Elan

Borough market is strictly sight seeing for me.
I do already shop at Lidl and Aldi but I always like to see if there is a new more budget friendly way of doing things where possible.

Teahfc wrote: »

The market pretty much works 02.00 to 09.00.
99% of the traders ( all wholesale) will not supply you with odd boxes here and there and those that did sell you something would do it at a premium price. It costs to get into the market itself .. I think £7-8.00. Stick to street markets for your bargains. London is dripping in them and you will always find something for your budget.

It definitely sounds like the market is strictly business then.

chesky wrote: »

I haven't bought vegetables so can't comment on that, but I have bought flowers on several occasions - it's a different section. I didn't have to pay to get in and most dealers will sell you the odd box of stuff and it IS cheaper. But they're not going to be chatty or into customer service - just hand over the money and p-- off. .

XD XD I'm not all that chatty anyway, so long as they're not aggressive lol. I know it's flowers and not fruit and veg but can I ask how much the odd box cost you compared to else where? How many boxes were you required to buy?

PlutoinCapricorn

For cheap fruit and vegatables, it is difficult to beat the £1 scoops that are to be found everywhere. I notice that some places give you more than others: Woolwich Arsenal, Edmonton Green and Ridley Road are particularly generous.

I prefer to get organics from Farmers' Markets: this is possibly the cheapest source.

Blagalot

You get bigger £1 scoops in Walthamstow market compared to Ridley Rd.

VfM4meplse

alanq wrote: »

New Covent Garden isn't going to be interested in someone popping in for a kilo of spuds but I believe that members of the public can buy in bulk. (At least I seem to recall a TV show with some folks buying a quantity of flowers to decorate their wedding venue.)

I have done that on occasion at New Spitalfields (Leyton / Stratford border).