Old markets 'replaced by gourmet food stalls'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A study found a move from cheap stalls catering for the working classes to specialist goods, such as organic meats and cheeses, bought by "metrosexual" Londoners. A total of 46 specialist and farmers' markets have appeared in the past decade while others considered the "heart" of communities are in serious decline.

Dee Doocey, who headed the London Assembly investigation, said: " London's markets have traditionally been a place where anyone and everyone can shop. It would be a shame if, in a few years, all that were left were a few gourmet markets aimed only at an affluent minority."

The report said Petticoat Lane faced "a potentially uncertain future" partly because it is just inside the congestion charge boundary. Traders must pay the £8 weekday levy to unload vans. The Assembly plans to write to Transport for London asking for the zone boundary to be redrawn around the market.

It has 155 pitches but the report said: "When we visited on a Tuesday in October, there were hardly any stalls and a handful of customers - it appeared to be a 'ghost town'."

However, there were success stories, such as Queen's market in Newham, estimated to generate £13million a year, and Lewisham with an annual £ 3.6million turnover. Both were cheaper than nearby supermarkets. At the premium end, Borough market had learned from foreign operations and built links with Budapest and Turin. Also, food from was more likely to have been sourced locally and use less packaging.

The report said London has 180 markets - 63 more than a decade ago - but council-managed ones faced a survival battle against dwindling sales, supermarket competition and rising rents. It called for greater protection and promotion of markets.