Berwick Street Market

Well, it’s not a big market and it’s in a weird place, as in there Yautcha at the corner, then a number of fairtrade.uhm.places that smell like weed, and it’s definitely old school fruit and veg stalls. (a pound a punnet and all that shazam!) Maybe it’s a Monday, but the stall owners weren’t that lively at all. I would have enjoyed a del-​boy type hardsell, the atmosphere would’ve have been more amazing.
But for me, at the moment, the star characters are the food stalls, Street food at its best!
Try Pizza Pilgrims, a new pizza place that has been set up in the last two weeks. Thin base, over baked ON SPOT, from the back of a van pizzas. If that still doesn’t entice you, IT’S A THREE WHEEL VAN, (like the one from old school Mr Bean TV series.) That is for you top gear fans, right there.
The Pizza was really nice, would’ve preferred more basil on top, but gooey tomatoness on a balmy spring day-​Totally perfect. Its just a shame there are no areas of green to sit down, i guess you could trek to soho square but pizza would be cold, it’s a walk and eat affair, whilst trrying to tear a piece off. It’s not an attractive look.
There’s also morrocon offerings, bread stalls and a banh mi stall which I’m putting on my to try list. :) AND yalla yalla down the road. This is why Soho is my go-​to place for an amazing lunch.

The down and dirty streets of old town Soho, always make me smile. Just a stones throw from the peep show rooms, the seediness of those clubs seeps out and effects the Berwick Street atmosphere. The whole place feels seedy, apples and all. Certainly not one of London’s go to markets, but if you are in the area and fancy some fruit, there are a handful of stalls still clinging onto their business where you can get your fill.
Berwick Street market is a classic, no frills, cockney lad, «3 for a pound darling, type of market where unless you want to stock up for your five-​a-​day, you are in the wrong place.

For those with a fondness for nostalgia, Berwick Street Market offers an glimpse into markets of the past. When food was food and there certainly was no hint of metrosexual artisanal cheeses and funny foreign breads on the horizon!
In fact, Berwick Street Market is part of the ever shrinking world of the old Soho that Westminster council is trying to clean up and walking from one end of the market to the other is like passing through a time warp. At the southern end are the few remaining sleazy streets of neon adult shops and adult theatres and as you walk to the northern end, you end up at Yaautcha, Alan Yau’s upmarket teashop and dim sum bar, where you can gaze longingly through the window at the rows upon rows of perfectly formed cakes.
The stalls are mainly fruit and veg with the sellers calling out their wares as you would imagine happening in the archetypal English market. The quality of fruit can vary, so be discerning. There are also stalls selling flowers, bags, odd electrical items, a fishmonger and a creperie.
Mu favourite is the stall selling nuts and little snacks like Japanese crackers. It’s can be found towards the northern end of the market. There’s a good selection often with little pots available for tasters. The chap who runs the stall is also very helpful with suggestions if you’re not sure what to get.
I wonder if Berwick Street Market will survive Westminster Council’s revolution. It would be a shame if it doesn’t.

The selection is limited and the range quite random, but come here past about 4:30pm and you’re bound to pick up a bargain. Around this time the sellers start putting two bowls of fruit and veg in one so you get double the amount for your pound. As it’s already cheaper than the supermarket, and a nicer «buy local» option anyway, this makes it off-​the-​scale good value for both your pockets and your conscience. It’s also a good example of an old and very random London street market.

Berwick Street is one of my favorite streets in Soho. It is such a mix of everything, along the street you can find my favorite café, vintage store and the cheapest vegetables and others stalls scattered along the street. That part is called the market.
There is also so other stalls selling music, clothes, crepes and fish. Very random. I wander what is the definition of an market but this place is definitely on the border as it is so small. But I suppose the essence is what it does to this street and now at least it is has personality.

A slapdash little market on a confused and confusing street in grimiest Soho. The mix of both gourmet and traditional fruit-​seller stalls make it unclear what is happening here. Is the target audience foodie ponces or the pound-​a-​bowl crowd? Who cares, this market, just like the street it’s on, defies either convention or definition. A list of the shops and cafes on the street demonstrates this. Beside a Christian charity shop there is a pound shop, an incense-​engulfed indian fabrics and sari wholesaler, two vinyl stockists, an organic café and a Somerfield supermarket. The other side of the street ain’t much better. But for a touch of street life colour, your 5-​a-​day for a bargain price, and some gourmet bread, Berwick Street is worth a look.

Berwick Street market is a small street market in the heart of Soho amongst the music and thread shops. Amongst the stands are a fish, a fruit and veg, a Malaysian fast food stall; where they sell Chicken Rice!
I have bought from these three stands and have always been please with the quality of the goods. What I like more about the market though is that adds to the traditional character of Soho and Central London, on a street that itself has lots of local character, and some great shops.