Forum Topic

Food market

Is absolutely banging. It seems that there is huge demand for this sort of thing after all. Thoughts and prayers to those who have to leave Chiswick on market days.

Paul Campbell ● 492d99 Comments

Ha ha Michael got over excited, and posted twice.  Amy Grant - Labour Councillor, anyone really think this would go any other way?  😂

Maggie Dodge ● 399d

Excellent news!

Paul Campbell ● 399d

License for food market granted.https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/chiswick-street-food-market-given-licence-to-continue/

Michael Robinson ● 399d

License for food market granted.https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/chiswick-street-food-market-given-licence-to-continue/

Michael Robinson ● 399d

Jayne, you may be right.  All I ask is to open your mind to the possibility you turn out to be wrong and that's why I have made the point not to rush to judgment.Time will tell.

Adrian Irving ● 412d

Adrian, the food market brings people from outside the area so local food businesses have a chance to attract new audiences, bars, pubs gain, all other businesses gain its a win win for everyone. More foot traffic more pockets so it’s up to local business to tap in. Normally the issue for retail is not enough foot traffic……some businesses will fail for all sorts of reasons nothing to do with increased foot traffic one Sunday a month.

Jayne Thorburn ● 412d

I think it is useful to distinguish between the three different markets and what impact  they may have.As I see it the flower and antique operations have little or no disruptive impact of existing businesses in terms of competition for trade. They are to be welcomed adding vibrancy and footfall which has to good for most residents and local businesses.The food market is different in so much it is selling meals in the same way as a high number of existing brick and mortar outlets are. You can argue the differences but essentially they both fill people's stomachs.Hounslow were right to trial the operation but I do feel it is too early to properly understand the impact it will have if it expands ten fold to sixty plus units.I'm not against it in principle but I have longer term concerns.

Adrian Irving ● 413d

Too true the very people who are supposed to be progressive are not fit for the roles. Too busy protecting your own, no commercial experience or skills,  no leadership most won’t survive in real jobs, local councils are shocking and councillors even more so….

Jayne Thorburn ● 413d

There is nothing wrong with opposing something until everyone is reasonably satisfied with what's going ahead, the Markets work really welland a benefit to other areas so always think they should be given a chance.

Janice Evans ● 413d

There's a reason our country is in decline, basic services are struggling, and we can't afford the infrastructure of a modern country. The type of curtain-twitching, I'm-alright-Jack, NIMBYism typified by Councillor Biddolph is a handbrake on GDP growth. Not to mentioned snowflake wokishness about using a knife to cut down a poster.

John Hall ● 413d

She would be representing the majority NOT the minority who are against it, she isn’t doing her job by opposing what the majority are very happen to see happen locally. For sure take a balanced view and perhaps explain to the few against the market about all the benefits. Local businesses need to think creatively how can they attract more customers with increased footfall. It’s not that hard to be positive.

Jayne Thorburn ● 413d

Sean, I'm all for the Markets, but to be fair Cllr. Biddolph is representingothers who have reason for concern and those are the people who are ableto iron out any problems and there are always problems with new ideas.

Janice Evans ● 413d

Where did the 99% figure come from 😂

Maggie Dodge ● 413d

What has happened to councillors back in the day they were in the side of locals, know it appears they have gone all political. Locals have invested in the area and pay a handsome price we are best placed to decide what happens not some political driven individual. Bring on the markets they work for 99% of folks.

Jayne Thorburn ● 413d

Regarding the street markets, I see that "100 dead cherry trees Biddolph” as she is known in my house, is up to her usual tricks. There is a Groucho Marx song ”Whatever it is, I’m against it” that she should use herself.It is obvious to anyone that the amount of footfall in the area is far greater on the market weekends and eveyone seems to like the markets a lot. After lockdown, Hounslow Council's answer to our problems was to put small notices on lamposts saying “shop in Chiswick”. What amused me was that you could only read them while shopping in Chiswick! Which rather missed the point. They could never have come up with an idea like the markets, bringing people and money into the area. A lot of the improvements in Chiswick, planting flowers and cleaning up waste land for example, has been from groups acting on their own initiative, which Councillor Biddolph and her fellows want to discourage as much as they can.

Sean Barton ● 413d

The street food market takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month although it will need to get its licence approved at a meeting next week. It looks fairly positive at this stage.There is ample parking around Chiswick on Sundays on market days although perhaps you would need to be local to know how to find it. It doesn't seem to have deterred lots of people from outside the area driving to the Food Market according to the survey that they did.There was one day late last year when I did notice a lot of pressure on local parking spaces on a Sunday but there must have been something else going on locally to cause this as it doesn't seem to have been market related.

Anita Blake ● 414d

Is the (car park) food market on today? chiswick calendar only seems to mention the Duke's Meadow one. Ta,

Rob Reynolds ● 415d

I rarely go to the High Road now but my recollection was of a buzzing busy High Road with a plethora of eating places always busy on any day of the week. Too many people on some days , certainly no parking going spare and bus service held up by the. Uncle lane. Why encourage more people. I’m mystified, has Chiswick become a ghost town ?

Maggie Dodge ● 416d

All the markets are fantastic and bring new life to the high road which in turns support bricks & mortar. It breaths new life into the high road which it desperately needs since the once wide tree lined attractive road has been ruined. Everyone wins 👏👏👏👏

Jayne Thorburn ● 416d

Very different proposition to the car park on the High Road on every level

Maggie Dodge ● 416d

Looks similar to Lyric Sq in August 2014 (on Google Streetmap)

Andrew Jones ● 416d

Michael how old  is this picture? I’m guessing 10 years. I’mReliably informed there are clues to the age

Maggie Dodge ● 416d

In fact one of the few objections to the Council is actually a local business asking for first refusal to have a stall at future markets. The extension will allow the organisers to invite more local businesses to participate as they are not the only ones to have written in on the basis of their positive experience of being involved. It seems like a no-brainer to raise awareness for businesses like The Whistling Oyster and Le Vacherin.

Paul Campbell ● 417d

Imagination? Have you read the objections submitted to the licensing panel? Do that and tell me more about imagination. I think that if a market attracts thousands of people to Chiswick on a Sunday then the positives outweigh negatives for local bricks and mortar businesses and several local hospitality businesses have bothered to write to the Council to support the extension of the licence. Conservatives Against Free Markets don’t understand this.

Paul Campbell ● 417d

"In this situation it is not difficult to imagine how the market opponents would have used that against them by claiming it breached their licensing conditions even it totally unfounded."I think your imagination is to lauded as mine  fails to see how providing a few temporary benches could be anything but a plus in the minds of all sensible people particularly, as you say, it would not breach their licencing conditions.From my part whatever happens it will have no impact on my life however if it grows to sixty plus units its got to have impact on some bricks and mortar outlets competing for the same trade. No imagination needed.Personally I'm a Dukes Meadow market fan.

Adrian Irving ● 417d

Did I read that only 15 of the possible 20 stalls were taken up but you want toIncrease it to 64? You are ignoring concerns of local residents of which you are not one, why? You take a bad idea and push it relentlessly, just to be difficult? I’m sure there’s a name for you is it narcissist, lack of empathy definitely . I’mglad they refer to the area as a car park and not the Ole Market or whatever fake name. You came up with, that made me smile

Maggie Dodge ● 417d

In this situation it is not difficult to imagine how the market opponents would have used that against them by claiming it breached their licensing conditions even it totally unfounded. They have deliberately contained the market within a small space to demonstrate that they can comply with the strict conditions placed upon their temporary three-month licence. That is why they have done so well to give no good reasons to their opponents to object. All sensible people in Chiswick should be hoping that the market succeeds in gaining its six month licence for 2024.

Paul Campbell ● 417d

Interesting. All  I can say when I opened new businesses I went all out to create the best first impression I could. You don't get a second chance. In this case if that meant spending a few quid organising some seating from the get go so be it, particularly when you remember they are operating on a trial basis.

Adrian Irving ● 417d

Chiswick has changed beyond recognition Paul Campbell.  Most of it seems to be to suit you with your cycle lanes and Parisian style cafe culture, which was just sitting in the gutter. We’re awash with places to eat , I think you’re obsessed with changing it not the other way round.

Maggie Dodge ● 417d

The market organisers need to know there is longer-term viability to their plans before they invest more. Understandably they are very aware of how determined a small number of the usual suspects are to scupper their plans and have been playing it safe. In fact it looks like some of these people see this as their last opportunity to save Chiswick from change. NIMBYs' Last Stand.They intend to provide seating and if they receive a favourable outcome at the licensing committee that safeguards a longer term future I am sure that is what they wll do.

Paul Campbell ● 417d

Interesting. When I attended their Winter Festival there was plenty of temporary seating so if Hammersmith can do it so can the food market.BTW there is seating out of your shot and just around the corner in King Street.

Adrian Irving ● 417d

Adrian, I think I must have missed the seating provided for the weekly food market in Lyric Square, Hammersmith, unless you are referring to sitting on the ground for which I agree, Lyric Square is better than a car park but still not a year-round option. I seem to remember that more seating was one of the points asked about for this activity to improve the area. http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=flowermarket2307.htm

Michael Robinson ● 417d

As I have said before the organisers need to provide seating. They need to take a leaf out of H&F. They get things done.

Adrian Irving ● 417d

I'm afraid that sitting on a wall is the norm for Humpty Dumpty Campbell. Let's hope the wanton Jezebel did not have a great fall.

Richard Greenhough ● 418d

No seating in elliot road. Im guessing someone sat on the front garden wall.Its all a bit silly but i have to say that if someone or some people are sitting on my front garden wall eating id go out and tell them to do one.

Julian Pavey ● 418d

I guess the most important issue is what the wanton Jezebel did with the packaging and waste after enjoying her food. Are there bins in Elliott Road and if so, does the council ensure that they are emptied both before and after the food market ?

Richard Greenhough ● 418d

This is perfectly normal behaviour from the Chair of a local Residents Association. The wanton Jezebel who not only had the temerity to buy food from a street market and eat in the street but also lacked the good grace not to conceal from whence it had come absolutely deserved to publicly shamed:

Paul Campbell ● 418d

It is fortunate that there are only four Sundays most months as one can only begin to imagine how hysterical the objectors would become if somebody were to propose a fifth market at The Old Marketplace.

Paul Campbell ● 418d

Cllr Biddolph gets an appendix all to herself for her objections and if you can make it to the end of the 7 pages without losing the will to live, there is this beauty:"The applicant was seen borrowing a knife from a trader with which to cut down notices and while he held this responsibly (close to his body, shielding it with his hand) when standing still, it showed that he did not plan ahead for what he would need to manage the area."Truly bizarre...

Michael Robinson ● 418d

Yes the street food market organisers emailed all the people who signed up to support them when they solicited feedback at their markets and received the positive responses from people who enjoyed the markets. From all around Chiswick it seems including local businesses on and off the High Road which will be disappointing to those who claimed that only people who live in Bedford and Grove Parks like the markets. The licensing committee could also look into the similarity of content and tone in the objections and ask whether there might be any more clandestine orchestration and who might be responsible. The length and frankly quite disturbing response of one opponent that warranted an appendix all of its own could provide a clue ….Read write to the end for the Partridge-esque complaint that the organiser didn’t carry scissors!

Paul Campbell ● 418d

“Increased the foodie profile” ?? phew and I thought we had a reputation for burgers and chicken shops in W4

Maggie Dodge ● 418d

Don't get me wrong, I've been to two of the food markets so far and enjoyed them but if you look at the time stamps on the submissions in favour, a good chunk were made on New Year's Eve and then another batch on New Year's day. There may be a perfectly innocent explanation for this but the Licensing Team might want to take a closer look.

Mark Evans ● 418d

I note from the 90 submissions in support of the extension of the licence for the street food market in Chiswick that one local business tackles the issue of competition from a coffee stall that some residents raised on this thread:"I just wanted to say that we own two coffee businesses in Chiswick and we've seen a big increase in footfall on Food St market days. Plus it has increased the foodie profile of Chiswick in general. We support the extension of the market licence".Turns out that my human geography lessons were right after all and that Chiswick Conservatives against free markets were wrong.By the way there are some absolute corkers in the few submissions opposing the licence ......

Paul Campbell ● 418d

"I am sure that anybody so keen to share their opinions on so many matters relating to Chiswick can easily disprove that if wrong by pointing to their profile on other social media ......"Good grief, Humpty, you mean if anyone could be bothered to seek you out elsewhere they would find you posting your stuff and nonsense on other social media sites as you do on CW4 ? Tragic or what ?

Richard Greenhough ● 484d

And another fact - you are using an anonymous account. I am sure that anybody so keen to share their opinions on so many matters relating to Chiswick can easily disprove that if wrong by pointing to their profile on other social media ......It would be a shame for you to have to create another anonymous account after being reported to the site administrators for breaching the forum's code of conduct.

Paul Campbell ● 484d

It's not my opinion that the traders in Chiswick do not have a veto on decisions about the future of Chiswick. It is a fact. In the same way as it is a fact that I do not have a veto.

Paul Campbell ● 484d

Whilst owning a private car,of course.

Keith Iddon ● 484d

Paul, I can't cater to all your delusions so I'll just address the most dangerous one namely your belief that you have a better understanding what is good for Chiswick businesses than the owners.The primary purpose of these markets is to support trade on the High Road at a time when local shops, cafes and restaurants face particularly challenging times. If they are doing the opposite then they have failed and have become part of the problem not part of the solution. Other stakeholders may have some say in the matter but the views of local traders must be paramount.Businesses are not uniform and have different priorities and get their customers from different sources and are each affected positively and negatively by the markets and other measures imposed by the council in different ways. We are therefore unlikely to get an immediate consensus on any decision. However, is they collectively reach some sort of unanimity on the Street Food market then this should be be decisive and your, frankly barmy, view that you have a better understanding of what is in their best interest should be totally disregarded.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 484d

I expect Humpty Campbell intends to hand out leaflets at the market extolling the virtues of cycling lanes and proclaiming the evils of private cars.

Richard Greenhough ● 485d

Considering our passionate Mr Campbell is about promoting this food market I wonder if he has a financial interest in it?

Paul Fisher ● 485d

I don't think you are using an anonymous account because you are part of a fiendish plot. I think you are a lone voice who lacks the courage of his convictions to use his real name on a community forum or has maybe been banned from doing so before. I wouldn't credit your ideas with being representative of anybody's thoughts other than your own. Traders do not get to determine what happens with anything in Chiswick. Thank goodness as time and again they demonstrate flawed judgment and the promotion of their own interests over the common and indeed their own good as the Devonshire Road story has so clearly demonstrated. They are one group of stakeholders amongst many others and that is all.

Paul Campbell ● 485d

Thank you for precisely demonstrating my point that you obsessively think that everyone who disagrees with you is part of some fiendish plot.I am not arguing against your point of view that dwell times and footfall may increase in fact the other markets give every indication that this is what is happening and there is a developing consensus that they are a good thing.The food market is clearly different as it presents a more direct competition to more businesses. It may be that your contention on the extra footfall being brought in will be proved correct and the size of the cake gets bigger so everyone benefits. The wise decision of the Licensing Panel to give the market a try so that this theory can be tested means we will have evidence on which to base a decision. Where we differ is that you think you and Richard Johnson should decide on whether the market has been a success and I, and the vast majority of others who have taken an interest in this matter, believe that local businesses should have the final say. The justification for these markets is that they benefit local trade and that is the test they need to pass to be allowed to continue. The three that we have appear to have done so but the voice of those whose livelihoods are most directly affected by the Street Food market should determine its future. That's the simple and unsubtle reason why I thought Mr Johnson was unwise to give pitches to stalls to operations directly competing with existing bricks and mortar businesses.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 485d

Happy about it I meant to say.

Janice Evans ● 487d

As long as established retailers are happy it, feedback is important.

Janice Evans ● 487d

True, but it's always good to have more choice, we all have places we prefer.

Janice Evans ● 487d

Janice isn’t it about giving the shopper variety as much as not affecting other retailers. How many high streets moan, not another phone shop, coffee shop, nail bar etc. Everyone wants variety I think

Maggie Dodge ● 488d

For many, sitting in a cafe to eat or drink is a far better experience than buying from a stall and wandering about clutching your food and paper cup looking for somewhere to sit and eat what you've bought.  The food market could easily provide a few seats rather than expecting cafes to provide shelter for non-customers with smelly food. As for litter, I'd expect the market itself to be fairly clear, as most food litter is probably dropped about one 'BigMac' radius away.  It would be interesting to get feedback from the two councils involved about the condition of their litter bins in the surrounding streets.

Peter Evans ● 488d

Agree it might seem odd having stalls that sell food you can also get locally but this really does work in other areas and the retailers do better on Market Days, I made a point of asking around on our last visit to one furtherout, think I mentioned that on another thread, they are all doing very wellthere.

Janice Evans ● 488d

That was a very long way of admitting you were wrong. Here is something else you are wrong about - a single stall selling coffee or even multiple vendors selling drinks does not preclude local businesses including cafes from benefitting from the substantially higher footfall and dwell. The coffee stall is hardly going to satisfy everybody who comes to the area to experience the food market. Of curse you are making arguments against the market. You are not as subtle as you think you are. And you use an anonymous account to do it.

Paul Campbell ● 488d

I thought the original argument about why the market wasn't a threat to cafes in the area was that people would buy food from the market but stick around to have a coffee later. Certainly this seemed to be the view of a couple of cafe owners who were relaxed about the market coming to Chiswick. As I have said, I don't know if their experience on the day has changed their view but if some stalls were also selling hot drinks, rather than cans of pop, as well as there being a coffee stall then the net benefit of the increased footfall in the areas is likely to have been much less than anticipated.Chateau, because of its excellent cakes and pastries, is generally busy and would have been exceptionally so given the weather last Sunday on its pavement tables with or without the market. That it was close to business as usual is hardly a clincher that the market was to its benefit. I would tend to believe what a business owner is telling me about how they are being impacted.You make a fair point about certain types of food not being welcome in cafes and you are right that I know little about this industry. What I was trying to do was reinforce the point that you and others had previously made that the market would boost the turnover of other hospitality businesses. As the main drawback most people reported about the food market was a lack of places to sit, this seemed to me a possible solution and it would be more so if a future market isn't blessed with the kind of good weather we saw this month. I have to admit your objections to the notion have some validity.I think most people would understand why there would be potential confusion between you and Maggie. You are two sides of the same coin, obsessive about a single issue, unwilling to listen to counter arguments, endlessly repeating the same points, incapable of accepting any nuance and totally convinced that anyone who doesn't whole heartedly agree with you is plotting against you. Case in point - I have never made any arguments against the market but you have interpreted my suggestion that allowing stalls that offered like for like products with nearby bricks and mortar businesses as an attempt to undermine it rather than a gentle nudge that a more considered approach would increase the chance of licence renewal.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 488d

Many of the stall operators were selling drinks. I have to assume that not only did you not visit this market but that you have never been to a street food market. I think you have overlooked the high probability that you are in a very small minority of people who would have expected vendors at a street food market to not be selling drinks or other items that could be purchased elsewhere in Chiswick. A bit like flowers, cheese and antiques eh?The principal objector to the market opposes it precisely because she does not want people buying food from the market and just drinks from her. As it happens Chateau was very busy with people eating her food. Which cafes exactly do you believe would welcome people sitting inside their premises eating a keema naan  or some loaded fries because they bought a bottle of sparkling water or a flat white from them? Tamp? Rock and Rose? Waft? Beehive? Urban Pantry? They don't serve food and would be content with people filling up their covers who will not be buying food from them? As I said there is a reason people with expertise, experience and a pragmatic can-do attitude create and run enterprises while armchair critics pontificate and contribute nothing.  You are confusing me with Maggie in accusing me of paranoia about a secret cabal and also absolving yourself of personal responsibility for the flimsiness of your poorly conceived arguments against the market. Try to think them through before you post. The solution to people wanting seating to enjoy their purchases is the one that the organisers want to implement - having seats at the market. I am sure they know that proposing to local business owners that they give up their seating to market customers would be both impractical to actually implement and make them instantly unpopular.

Paul Campbell ● 488d

I didn't really get whether the last comment was an endorsement or a condemnation of my suggestion that the market could operate in partnership with local cafes.If the latter you really need to get away from this paranoia that anyone who doesn't whole heartedly endorse the projects you support is part of a secret cabal to subtly undermine them.I don't have a strong view on the food market having not visited. I understand the pro-argument that it can boost footfall, I understand the anti-argument that it can provide increased competition for bricks and mortar businesses. The point I was making that to include a café stall potentially alienates some of the local businesses who were supportive of the food market and that seemed to me unwise.It may be that all the local café owners are relaxed about this or it may be that they are not and will have a quiet word in Mr Johnson's ear that, if he doesn't want more objections when the licence comes up for review early next year, he should stick to allocating pitches to food only businesses. I doubt he will adopt your head in the sand approach to potential problems but, if he does, the street food market might be short-lived.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 488d

Interesting you can’t see the merit of having stalls with food you can’t otherwise find locally , odd. You also think the Councillors will be inclined “privately” to dig their heels in if people date to criticise. You have a knack of putting your foot in it Paul because you can’t help proving you have insider knowledge. Oops !

Maggie Dodge ● 488d

"I wasn't there so can't really comment"This is definitely the most accurate thing you have said on the matter. "Perhaps the answer is to have an arrangement with local cafes that food bought at the market could be eaten at their tables if beverages are bought."And this is why some people like the organisers of this market get on and do good things while others sit back and criticise.

Paul Campbell ● 488d

The council, or rather the Licensing Panel, is likely to continue to act as they have done and find a reasonable compromise for what is quite a complex question. It was quite an astute move to involve Whistling Oyster and Maris in the event and it shows that Mr Johnson appreciates the importance of getting the bricks and mortar businesses onside. For that reason I was surprised to see a cafe stall because I know at least two local cafes had been supportive of the plan. They may remain so if footfall was sufficient to boost their revenues on the day. I wasn't there so can't really comment on how likely that would have been.Maybe a trick is being missed here. The people who did go to the market appear to have enjoyed it but the main complaint was lack of seating to eat the food. Perhaps the answer is to have an arrangement with local cafes that food bought at the market could be eaten at their tables if beverages are bought.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 488d

Should he stop Mari being entrepreneurial and setting up at the market to sell pasta too? Or Whistling Oyster selling fizz right outside two bars? I don't think that the Council is going to base its decision on extending the market on the organisers' ensuring that nothing sold in a bricks and mortar business is available there.Although I suspect that the more the usual suspects bleat about this market the more inclined privately the Council will be to sympathise with the organisers and their many happy customers.

Paul Campbell ● 489d

One has to wonder who gets chosen to have a stall when  there’s such a lot to choose from

Maggie Dodge ● 489d

Cancelling the market would be an over reaction and obviously one stall isn't going to put all Chiswick's coffee shops out of business. My point was that some cafe owners were supportive of the market because they hadn't anticipated that there would be a coffee stall. It seems to me Richard Johnson has potentially alienated some allies which may not be wise given that his licence is being reviewed after only two more events. He'd be more likely to get an extension if he made an effort to show he the event operated symbiotically with existing businesses and not in competition. This is the approach being adopted by Brentford Voice in their application.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 489d

If there are others queuing up to take  stalls, choose the out of the ordinary, it’s not rocket science!!!

Maggie Dodge ● 489d

Yeah one person selling coffee for five hours once a month will probably put all the coffee shops in Chiswick out of business. Cancel the market quick.

Paul Campbell ● 489d

I think some cafe owners had assumed they would get a net benefit due to the increased footfall but this must have been reduced by the presence of a cafe stall. As you say it will be interesting to hear feedback from them about the day.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 489d

Exactly Julian it’s a CAR PARK it has a purpose already. Who agreed to remove an existing facility for an alternative purpose? Maybe we don’t NEED a food market. There are masses of eating places and we have a Farmers Market and a Cheese Market. Now that’s a clever thought. Let’s just say No

Maggie Dodge ● 489d

Mike, I think you’re missing my point. I think I do have a point that’s why I bang on about it 🤷‍♀️There are loads of green spaces that are alternatives. Spaces used for other local events. Why choose a car park ? One that’s not really big enough? One with no seating. Answers on a postcard. Why is it accessible, depends where you live surely. Removing a car park means the disabled can’t park for other reasons than the food market. Can you at least see there are reasons for my objections. I believe the cycle lobby have chosen it as an anti car measure why not see the other side?

Maggie Dodge ● 489d

We visit food markets and still use the cafe or restaurant on the same day,having a drink don't stop you visiting other places, so feed back fromretailers would be interesting.

Janice Evans ● 489d

Having seen some of the photos of the food market what struck me was that a number of the stalls were in direct competition to existing retailers, for instance a coffee stand and a creperie. There is an application for a market in Brentford currently which is specifically stating it won't sell hot drinks or anything which competes with restaurants within 200 metres for instance pizza. In retrospect it might have been an idea to have similar conditions for the Chiswick market.One local cafe owner I spoke to was quite sanguine about the market saying he thought it would boost trade but I don't believe he anticipated that there would have been a cafe stall.Mr Johnson said he was disappointed at the restrictions on the number of stalls so he presumably has a range of alternative providers who don't directly compete with our bricks and mortar businesses who could take up a pitch next time.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 489d

Julian you are a funny boy 👏👏👏👏😛

Jayne Thorburn ● 489d

What seemed lacking was an area for people to enjoy the food, maybe some seating further down would be a bonus

Claire Harrington ● 489d

Under maggies plan the customer will need wellies and for the seller,they will need to put plenty of boarding down over the green spaces so it does not get damaged.Hold up,ive a better idea,just have it in the side road on CHR. I believe its a car park God im clever

Julian Pavey ● 489d

You really are obsessed with this 'anti car clan' thing. For me, someone with reduced mobility who doesn't want to drive everywhere, it's in the perfect location.

Mike Smith ● 489d

As with C9 the market is in the wrong place!!  Plenty of large green areas in Chiswick where there’s already seating and where local fairs are held. It doesn’t of course impact drivers by removing car parking so the current area is favourite if you’re part of the anti car clan.

Maggie Dodge ● 489d

One of the organisers mentioned to me that they want to add seating. I think they are highly conscious of the malignant element in Chiswick society that is scrutinising their every move and publicly impugning their character and integrity as Anita has just done. So they will be very cautious as they progress and improve the experience of customers after this successful start.

Paul Campbell ● 490d

I know there would be a storage issue, but during the food market (and even the cheese market) an area of seating would add to the experience.  It would probably also help with litter as some people would eat (and dispose of litter) in the same spot.

Kieran Fox ● 490d

Much as I admire him for managing to get this enterprise off the ground, having seen his performance on Dragons' Den I'd tend to take his claims with a pinch of salt. If they are accurate, I'd be delighted because there were at least two stalls I'd like to sample the wares of.

Anita Blake ● 490d

"Richard told The Chiswick Calendar Sunday’s market was a “massive success” and that most traders had sold out"Demand exceeding supply at the first market. I understand why the organiser is pleased as were many customers.

Paul Campbell ● 490d

Bit early to hail it a success. The layout could do with a redesign to allow people to browse through more easily as the central area got very congested. Spreading it out a bit would help. Hard to judge how many people were actually buying food rather than lookyloos. There were queues at some stalls but whether that was a function of demand or slow food prep is hard to say. The range of food did look very interesting though so I plan to visit as a customer next time.

Anita Blake ● 490d

Nice article about the success of the food market in The Chiswick Calendar:https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/chiswicks-first-street-food-market-claimed-as-massive-success-by-organiser/

Paul Campbell ● 490d

Aah  good. More fat people being produced.

Steve Taylor ● 490d

The cheese market has gone from strength to strength so I am glad to see that the food market looks as though it is following the trend.Obviously, the key is whether it can continue to do well in the col wet winter months but I do hope so

Justin Stephenson ● 490d

I walked through the car park this morning and it seemed tidier than it normally would have done.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 491d

The 20 stalls of the Food Market may have been enjoyable.  The 62 stalls that were applied for would have had a much more significant impact on Chiswick High Road.

Rae Lewis ● 492d

Weather always plays a part in attendance, if they like it enough they willreturn whatever the weather.

Janice Evans ● 492d

Sorry, I meant to say I WASN'T there after the market finished.

Anita Blake ● 492d

We wandered down to have a look although we'd already eaten. There was a reasonable sized crowd there although Chiswick generally was buzzing. The market was crowded but the passage through between the stalls seemed to be smaller than with other markets so it created pinchpoints so the photos create a slightly distorted picture. There didn't seem to be the mess that people were anticipating but I was there after the market had finished.There were some very interesting looking stalls and next month I think we will plan to try some of them out. The question is whether without the glorious weather we had on Sunday and the curiosity of people to check out something new, will the next market be quite as popular.

Anita Blake ● 492d

Agree 👍

Janice Evans ● 492d

Well done to the people of chiswick ensuring that the new food market on a glorious Sunday is a great success, absolutely what Chiswick needs 👏👏👏👏 everyone wins.

Jayne Thorburn ● 492d

Stalls were running out of food at 2 o’clock. And Chateau was packed. No tables free in the George IV. Chiswick buzzing.

Paul Campbell ● 492d

Or indeed the crepes from the stall you can see in the picture which were fantastic and great value.  And yes, it was that very crowded when we arrived around 12.

Alastair Banton ● 492d

Well said Peter! You should go and tell all these people that they do not need Venezuelan, South African, Mexican street food or to buy freshly cooked pasta from Mari's pop-up or oysters and champagne from The Whistling Oyster. 

Paul Campbell ● 492d

Banging? Banging your head against a brick wall, more like.Only about a dozen stalls this morning and few people. Stalls dominated by vans selling Burgers and hot dogs from the look of it. Is that what Chiswick really needs?

Peter Milligan ● 492d