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Discovering London’s Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market London

If I lived anywhere near Bermondsey, I’d be a regular at this tiny street market that’s nestled in amongst the railway arches and a large council estate.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

I knew before I even walked into the market that I would love it because it has that quirk appeal from the very beginning with the pile of rope wrapped around the archway that says “Ropewalk” and a stack of battered old suitcases on a green cart. It has character. And Union Jack bunting.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

 The vendors sell quality artisan products. They’re passionate about what they do and definitely willing to stop and talk to you about what they’re selling, how it’s made and what’s special about it.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Bad Brownie was there with their incredible selection of gourmet brownies including these salted caramel ones that were voted the “best brownie in London” at the 2014 Chocolate Festival. I somehow found the willpower to resist walking off with a whole tray after passing by them three times.

Maltby Street Market

I noticed quite a lot of locally-produced food and drinks, like the beautifully-labelled Godnells mead made from honey in one of the city’s microbreweries.

Maltby Street Market

One of my favourites was The Gay Farmer, a friendly guy who started harvesting olives from his mother’s trees in Spain and started this business idea back in 2008. He now sells organic extra virgin olive oil in sleek black bottles and has jars of fresh basil pesto as well. Yum!

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

I saw a lot of chalkboard signs with the words “fresh”, “organic” and “London”. Origin and quality are important here. Presentation too.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

There was some delicious-looking salmon being sliced up and turned into snack-sized nibbles by the guys at the stall for Hansen & Lydersen, a Norwegian smokehouse based in London. Their salmon is hung traditionally and then cold-smoked slowly in Stoke Newington in their brick kiln with a mixture of juniper and beech wood that I imagine give it a wonderful flavour.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Though it’s a small space, there was something to cater to all tastebuds.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

There were neat arrangements of colourful veggies on display too.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Those with a sweet tooth definitely wouldn’t leave unsatisfied.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

While the selection and wow factor can’t compare to the massive, sprawling, historical Borough Market a 15 minute walk down the road, Maltby Street Market has a real welcoming community feel. It’s a local foodie haunt with tiny or no queues rather than packed to the brim with tourists.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

It seems more personable, a more immersive experience where you learn a bit about the people behind the food instead of rushing from stall to stall. There’s a temptation to linger and sit back and enjoy it becuase it’s not so claustrophobic and there are plenty of places to grab a seat.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

Don’t get me wrong; I adore Borough Market (and of course I went there as well while I was in this area so more on that later), but this little discovery is definitely a gem.

Maltby Street Market

Maltby Street Market

It’s not such a hidden one anymore. I guess it took me a few years to finally make a point of going, but I’m so glad I did. Rumour has it that the custard donuts from nearby St. John’s Bakery alone – which I (apparently mistakenly) didn’t visit this time – make it worth another visit. And, there are plenty more oddities to explore in the local area!

Maltby Street Market

 

 

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3 Comments

  • Reply
    Katie
    August 20, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    What a wonderful market!! A friend took me to Borough Market, which I loved. But this seems way more accessible, easier to move around and talk to the vendors. Those salted caramel brownies sound amazing. I’m drooling just thinking about them. 🙂

  • Reply
    Chris Old
    September 2, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Awesome. Funnily enough, I had my first visit to Maltby St market myself this weekend and loved the community feel. The food and drink were, of course, of the highest quality too.

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 2, 2014 at 9:38 pm

      Oh wow, that is funny! I’m glad you picked up on the community vibes as well. What did you have to eat/drink?

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