English Breakfasts and Old London Street Markets Walks

Introducing the English Breakfast Walk from the renown ‘London Street Markets Walk’.

Director Alfred Hitchcock once said that he “could eat an English breakfast three times a day”. Taking a leaf out of his book Sandra Shevey, CEO of ‘London Street Markets Walk’ has devised a unique Breakfast Markets Walk.

“The Walks are exciting and full of discoveries. We keep our programme secret. I can only reveal that one of the highlights of the tour is that we have three breakfasts at three markets in three hours”, says Sandra who doesn’t want to give away too much about the walk because of the “poachers”. “And I don’t mean poached eggs,” she adds.

Sandra Shevey is a 69 years old Cultural Historian who supports ancient street markets sustainability. Having created a series of walks which celebrate London’s street market culture, Sandra is also writing blogs and making films about the markets. Her articles have appeared in print and online at Visit Britain, Travelbite, All in London to mention just a few. Her documentary featuring various markets (including Smithfield, Spitalfield, Covent Garden and Borough) promotes conservation and preservation of London’s ancient markets and traditions. Watch a trailer here . The documentary is obtainable at sandra_shevey@semperey.com.

Sandra now profiles 15 markets across 33 boroughs on a daily basis, visiting 3 markets within 3 hours. Sandra photo English Breakfasts and Old London Street Markets Walks

London Street Markets Walk works in tandem with local traders and suppliers to promote local produce and she is also personally engaged in protecting the unique market environment. Sandra pitched in with traders fighting the takeover of stalls by developers within the Portobello markets; she supported Greenwich in its fight against the Greenwich Hospital sell-off and re-fit. She fought with Walthamstow against the ‘Height’ and/or buildings forthcoming in the area which would interfere with the market.

‘Cockney’ and ‘local’ are bywords for Sandra, who knows how to give the foodies “a wider berth” during the visits geared to working-class, local market. Sandra emphasises local, London produce and also promotes traditional foods such as lardy cakes, bangers and mash, bubble and squeak. Most of the cafés and pubs introduced in the walks use sustainable produce as well as cater for vegetarians.

Sandra Shevey has been profiling London history since the Sixties. “The times change and we change with them.” is her philosophy. On the other hand, her experience taught her also that in some ways “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Sandra Shevey celebrates “the best of change” in this daily Breakfast Markets Walk.

The next tour, which is taking place on the 30th of June, is introducing 3 different markets, each of which is fascinating and unique in its own way. This particular walk references those London markets which begin selling at night and finish just before Noon the following day. Markets profiled include Billingsgate (where the participants choose their own breakfast from the day’s catch), Smithfield (where they eat grub with the porters) and a surprise market (whichever one is doing something exciting that day).

Below are some examples of the traditional markets included in the various tours programme, carefully selected and lovingly introduced by Sandra.

Croydon’s Surrey Street Market is the oldest, cheapest and friendliest market in London. It got its charter in 1276 with King Edward I’s bequest to Robert Kilwardby, Archbishop of Canterbury. The market’s trade rules have undergone many changes, until eventually were set in the form we know them today in 1922. It still keeps many traditional customs. The only exception is the old bell or whistle, which no longer heralds the opening of the market.

Deptford Market is a shabby old dame of a market, until you realise there`s a fishmongers who sells snails the size of baseballs and a collectibles stall where a £100 vintage bike was sold to another dealer who got £600 for it.
Established in 1883 as a daily market selling perishables and non-perishables, its principal trading day on Saturday, Deptford market catered for the increased working-class which had settled in Deptford to cater for the Foreign Cattle market that opened in 1871 following the Contagious Disease Act 1869. (The cattle market closed in 1914 and never re-opened).

Walthamstow market , dating back to 1885, is still the longest if not the largest market in Europe. It snakes down the High Street from the market square along a path which until the Seventies was a proper working road. Since the Seventies, it`s been cobbled and pedestrianised. The working-class character of the neighbourhood, still way off from gentrification, secures the longevity of the old street market. An age where men were men and markets were markets is alive and well in Walthamstow circa 2012.