Old Spitalfields Market Sunday Shopping

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 @ 3:53 pm

Whilst enjoying a nice glass of red in a nearby Spitalfields pub with friends, (with a tv of course for the boys to watch football  L) I felt rather partial to tweet of what a ‘smug Sunday’ we were having.  Whilst avoiding the match I browsed my newsfeed and noticed @oldspitalfields had posted a very enticing competition for a £60 in 60 minute shopping spree, within seconds I had sent my tweet thinking I had no chance.  Yet low and behold confirmation hit my phone, I was in!

Old Spitalifields Market had saved our afternoon of football watching in the pub, and as I am such a lovely friend I offered to save Becca too and share the prize.  However, there was no need, the other contestant pulled out leaving the 2nd shopper spot free and with Becca’s name all over it.

Off we went to meet the lovely guys behind old Spitalfields Market who promptly sent us on our way with £60 each to spend on whatever we liked in 60 minutes…….

Easy.

We started off and sampled the (very) hot chilli sauce, tasted the yummy olives before we set our sights on the CLOTHES.

1st purchase of the day came in the form of a lovely peter pan collar dress that has already become a winter staple teemed with tassel loafers and an oversized satchel.

Becca then promptly hurried to the fur stall, where she found this gem.

Perfect for when we brave the cold and head to Stockholm next month (for more shopping!!)

We were having so much fun, and our infectious shopping energy was rubbing off on fellow shoppers.  We even managed to enlist an extra and create our very own Girl band, watch out X Factor 2012 we are ready……..


A few things just slightly out of budget but utterly fabulous

Time was running out as we were too distracted with all the amazing things on offer at the market.  With 5 minutes to spare we made a quick dash back to Belle De Jour to purchase the beautiful bracelets with beautiful engravements.

5.02pm and time was up.  With £5 to spare we sweet talked the nice guys at the doughnut stall for sweet treats to take back to the boys watching the football.

What better way to end the shopping spree than this

Thanks Old Spitalfields Market for saving our Sunday.  We are ready and willing at anytime to prove how easy it is to spend £60 in 60 minutes at such a charming market.

Claire and Becca xxx

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Types of venue at Old Spitalfields Market

Monday, September 26, 2011 @ 2:30 pm

If you are looking for a venue with a difference to hold an event then look no further than Old Spitalfields Market. Here you can hold an event with a difference. Located between London’s world-famous financial district and its iconic East End, Old Spitalfields Market presents a rare blank canvas on which to create the perfect event for any occasion.

Spitalfields provides over 1000 sq metres of indoor hire space. The market’s covered piazza provides a flexible venue that can be used for a range of different events ranging from consumer product launches, fashion shows, corporate events and parties. The venue is also suitable for small exhibitions.

As soon as you arrive at the market you fall in love with it. Instantly you will get the wow factor just form the clean cut steel structures combined with the Victorian brickwork. This creates a dramatic backdrop that even the harshest critics will find hard to fault.

This article explains why Spitalfields is ideal for venue hire.
Its interiors speak for itself, as to why it needs to be chosen for your venue. This 300 years old venue it is all royalty with its Georgian and Victorian structure which means it can cater for big crowds.

Old Spitalfields is one of London’s oldest buildings and everything about it is unique. The perfect venue it offers everything – class, space and atmosphere. Why is it perfect for your event? The answer is simple, it is at a great location, it offers ambience and it offers uniqueness, something not found in other London venues.  The venue is perfect for any event where you want to create an electric atmosphere for your guests.

This fantastic building has been fully restored to its original glory and to make it more spectacular the building has a state of the art lighting system which when operational creates stunning lighting across the contemporary architecture.

The market has been the venue for many events including conferences, receptions, product launches, fashion shows, exhibitions, cultural celebrations, filming and photo shoots and even weddings.

Hiring Old Spitalfields for your event will guarantee you one thing – your guests will be in awe at your chosen event.  It offers everything and more making your event that extra special.

If you’re interested in holding an event at Old Spitalfields Market then please view our London Venue Hire Page

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The Paw Pageant / The Shoreditch Unbound Variety Show

Monday, September 19, 2011 @ 7:20 am

Despite that the potential for a few nightmare scenarios to occur – fur allergics, swarms of angry cat lovers, an equally angry swarm of EDL protestors, dog-based cat-fights… that sort of thing – the Shoreditch Unbound brainboxes and Old Spitalfields event boffins put together the paw-fect show that quite literally had every man and his dog in attendance.

The Darling Dog Company provided luxury pooch prizes for the winner of each canine category, which included Best Bitch in the Ditch, Dead Ringer and even Fugliest dog (which stands for funniest/ugliest. What did you think it meant?!).

Even at the risk of their dog being labelled “Fugliest” before the real meaning of the phrase had been revealed, people from various parts of The Big Smoke and beyond turned out to have their pets judged by our panelists. Dog owners paraded their four legged friends up and down the catwalk, and winners were elected from the swarm of ninja pugs, cashmere-clad hounds, tie-sporting furballs and even some generally misbehaving mutts. One adorable pooch had even been brought to Old Spitalfields in the hope of finding a home after being found abandoned during the London Riots this summer.

Winning Dogs:
Dead Ringer – Sinead
Dressed to the K-Nines – Miss Roxy Roo
Fugliest Dog – Spike
Shoreditch Showoff – Jemima
Paw-ditch – Ralph
Pawfection – Colin
Best Bitch in the Ditch – Lola
Dog of the Day – Miss Roxy Roo

Spitalfields had no time to rest after dishing out the doggy prizes though. Oh no. After giving the runway a bit off a sweep (just a few crumbs of Pedigree Chum, nothing serious), our Darling Dog bonanza was transformed into a showbiz stage that one might simply describe as some sort of “glitter museum”.

Yes, the Shoreditch Unbound Variety Show was on the way, hosted by not-so-low-key The Fabulous Russella – London’s biggest, lairiest and most glamourous drag act by a full country mile. Who, as it happens, can style out slipping on pancake batter like you’ve never seen before…

The Fabulous Russella was joined by a whole host of acts throughout the evening, most notably burlesque dancer Kiki Kaboom, who plays a whole collection of different characters – chav persona most definitely the prominent one for this particular performance – and got right down to a pair of “Badass” panties and nipple tassels before our very eyes (afterwards she said she’d noticed a little girl in the audience and had to pretend she wasn’t there. Oh dear…).  A Prince tribute like no other also took to the stage in the form of last year’s “London’s Next Top Tranny” winner; Miss Fancy Chance, along with camp-as-chips and rather naughty comedian David Mills, some avant-garde… erm… avant-garde-ery from Ryan Styles and, our fantastically flexi-fabulous hula-hooping headliner Marawa The Amazing put on a spectacular performance in some mighty stilettos. How she didn’t break her neck we don’t know!

Comedy, cabaret and pancake mix. Apparently, all the ingredients you need for a killer variety show. Who’d have thought!

If you’re looking for events in London, then please look at the Old Spitalfields Market Calendar for all upcoming events

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Things to look for that make a good venue

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 @ 2:44 pm

Any successful event has to have the key ingredient – a great venue as this is critical for success or failure of the event.  When you are making a decision on which venue to hire you will consider all the obvious factors – cost, suitability and convenience. However, various other measures can be taken to ensure that the venue you choose is the best one for your requirements.

Here are some popular things to look for when sourcing a venue for that special event.

What is the theme?
It is important to know what your theme is before booking any sort of venue. Ask yourself ‘What type of event am I having?’ Is it a dinner and dance, fashion show, corporate event, wedding reception or party? Once you know the type of event you will have a clearer idea of the type of venue that you will need.

What attributes will the venue need to have?
When planning your event you need to think about that attributes the venue will need to have. These can be mandatory and ‘nice to haves’, but this will depend on the size of the event you are doing. These attributes would includes things such as accessibility for disabled people, parking, air conditioning, outside area – particularly important if the event you are holding is in Summer. It is always a good idea to create this list before you actually start trying to find a venue.

Is the venue suitable for your guests?
This is extremely important when looking for venues – is it suitable for your guests? If the event is important such as a corporate event for clients then ask yourself if they will respond if the location is poor, the rooms are dark and cramped or the decor is outdated. All of these are definitely no for any event. If you do have doubts, arrange a visit beforehand.

What services will I need from the venue?
This is very important when sourcing a venue for your event.  If it is a classy event, do you want a drinks reception, if so the finest Champagne or expensive wine?  Is it a sit down meal f self service buffet? Do you require flowers, cloakroom attendants, and waiter service?

Once you have assessed all the services that you require, ensure you are certain of all the costs that will be involved when hiring the venue. IF the venue owners charge a service charge then establish this at the beginning, also establish the cost for hiring tables and chairs. Always fully understand all of the costs involved before signing on the dotted line. There is nothing worse than unexpected costs.

One of the most important factors is to consider the amount of time you are going to spend sourcing the right venue as this is a very time consuming process. One idea is to use an external venue sourcing company who can help you find the perfect venue. Try to find companies that provide venue sourcing as part of their services (such as our own). There should be no charge for using these services and no mark ups on venue fees.

Good venue sourcing companies will be able to provide you with venue opening hours, floor plans (these rarely don’t exist), menu samples, date availability information, cost (most importantly) and (often) personal experience of the venues they are recommending to you.

If you’re looing for the perfect venue to hire in London with a supporting events staff, then look no further than Old Spitalfields Market. Why not take a virtual tour around the venue

 

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Antique markets in London

Thursday, September 8, 2011 @ 8:54 am

Anyone who is an antiques fan will know that the antique market in London is thriving. Love your antiques then London is the place for shopping to buy antiques as you will find many a treasure at the antique markets.

If you love browsing stalls and love the buzz haggling gives you then the London antique market is the scene for you. There are many specialist antique market locations around London where you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for.

Alfie’s Antique market
Alfie’s antique market is a fantastic market and is home to about 100 well known antique dealers. At Alfie’s market you will find a whole maze of antique treasures in a building which was a former department store. As soon as you lay eyes on the quantity of stock at this market you will be speechless. Not only is it breathtaking but also beautiful and includes a whole range of art deco, silver, antique furniture, fine art, stunning jewellery and vintage clothing.  Alfie’s antique market is open from 10am-6pm Tuesday to Saturday at St.John’s Wood in London.

Bayswater Road market
Bayswater road is an artist’s market. Here you will find over 250 artists displaying their original art work. The market stretches over a mile long and is the largest open air art exhibition in the world today. Whatever you see at the market is for sale at a studio price.  The majority of items are mostly paintings but you will also find some sculpture work and jewellery at Bayswater Road.

Located at Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens this art exhibition makes London proud. Over the last 30 years people have been flocking to the market to see the beautiful pieces of original art on display hoping to buy one of them. A beautiful backdrop of location provides the perfect setting for this market. A visit to Bayswater road market is like walking through the largest open air art exhibition the world has to offer. The market is open every Sunday from 10am -6om and is a perfect day out on a Sunday.

Camden Passage Market
Not to be confused with Camden Market, Camden Passage Market is set within cobbled walkways off Islington High Street. This is famous for being a small but fabulous antiques market where you can find stunning antique items including Victorian silverware, prints, jewellery, vintage toys and vintage clothing.  The market is fabulous for browsing but if you try to find a bargain it will prove difficult as most of the traders are experts in their field. Haggling is part and parcel at this market as prices are generally high so brush up on your skills for haggling.  This market holds different markets on different days with Sunday being a Farmers’ Market which sells local grown produce.

The market is also home to The Mall Antiques Arcade, a former tram station, and with 35 specialist dealers, it is the focus of Islington’s thriving antiques community. The market is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Grays Antique Market
Grays Antique Market is at the heart of London’s West End and offers a huge range of antiques. At first look of the market you will see many stalls selling fine and beautiful jewellery but look a little deeper and you will see fine antique items such as porcelain, silverware, art and many other items.

The market is housed in a beautiful old 19th century Victorian plumbing factory. A day out here is a real treat for any antique enthusiast or antique amateur.

Portobello Road Market
What can be said about Portobello Road Market that you have not heard before? Probably one of the most famous streets in London it is also home to the largest antiques market in the world.  This market specialises in absolutely everything to do with antiques – jewellery, art, furniture, silverware, vintage clothing and even bric a brac.  A market this is always busy with people you will not be disappointed with a trip to the market even if you are not looking to buy any antiques.

Open from 8am-5pm on Saturday you will surely enjoy a day out at this market.
There is so much variety when it comes to antique markets in London. Whichever one you choose you will surely not be disappointed.

 

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The Vans Downtown Showdown at Old Spitalfields Market

Thursday, September 1, 2011 @ 2:43 pm

On this particular Saturday morning, the Old Spitalfields known and loved by Londoners and tourists alike was given something of an overhaul. Everyday market stalls were packed up and shipped out and the market centre completely cleared for one big event: The Americans were moving in – in particular the skateboarding superstars endorsed by Vans skate wear company, best known for producing the finest boarding shoes around.



In a bid to create a fusion of traditional London themes and the pinnacle of down-with-the-kids skate branding, up went three skate-park-style obstacles set in prominent historical places, each appointed with its own thrillseeking name – “Cliché”, “Death” and “Superdead” – and twelve of Europe’s finest professional skateboarding teams gathered in London Town to compete for the €50,000 prize. Cash was awarded to the boys showing the highest level of boarding skill in the face of tough competition, which means serious pressure to get those Ollie’s right and perfect those all-important grinds. Elbow pads anyone?

Over 10,000 people flocked to the market to behold the sight of the best in skateboarding talent – including Barney Page, Danny Brady and even a celebrity appearance from Wee Man of renowned crazy stunt pulling troop, Jackass – making this the largest skateboarding event held in the UK to date, even prompting the Fire and Stone pizza parlour in Old Spitalfields to produce its own V shaped Vans themed pizza. The crowd were even showered (quite literally) with Vans freebies during the skate-offs, not to mention the Vans team were making waffles on a stick outside to sweeten the deal a little more.

“Death”, the starting ramp based loosely on the layout of Gunthorpe Street and the infamous tale of Jack the Ripper, proved to be the most versatile of the three obstacles, with the daring board boys taking a fancy to the high wall on one side that just screamed a temptation to make a death defying leap back into the arena. It spurred an array of “Ohh’s” and “eeeeks!” from the slightly concerned crowd, but if boundaries aren’t pushed points don’t tot up, and the stunts paid off for Phil Zwijsen and Danny Brady, who finished the round in first and second place respectively.

Dying to see them in action? Fear not – head to Vans.co.uk for the Downtown Showdown Highlights. [link: http://www.vans.co.uk/events/78/vans-downtown-showdown-2011-london/]

FULL RESULTS:

Death Skateboards Obstacle 3rd: EUR 500 Danny Brady
Death Skateboards Obstacle 2nd: EUR 800 Ben Raemers
Death Skateboards Obstacle 1st: EUR 1,500 Phil Zwijsen

Cliche Obstacle 3rd: EUR 500 Dallas Rockvam
Cliche Obstacle 2nd: EUR 800 Chris Oliver
Cliche Obstacle 1st: EUR 1,500 Danny Brady

Superdead Obstacle 3rd: EUR 500 Rob Smith
Superdead Obstacle 2nd: EUR 800 Chris Pfanner
Superdead Obstacle 1st: EUR 1,500 Nassim Guammaz

Best Am: EUR 1,000 Nassim Guammaz

Best Pro: EUR 1,500 Danny Brady

MONSTER RIPPER award EUR 1,000 Flo Mirtain

4rth Team of the day: EUR 6,000 Superdead
3rd Team of the day: EUR 8,000 Enjoi
2nd Team of the day: EUR 10,000 ELEMENT EUROPE
1st Team of the day EUR 14,000 Antiz

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A trip round London markets

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 @ 11:38 am

Many of the London markets open early in the morning and close around early afternoon Taking a visit around the 5 popular markets in London can probably take a whole day but it is time well spent. A quick tip when visiting the markets is to make sure you buy something and also spend some time observing other people that visit the markets.

Borough Market
You cannot miss a trip to Borough Market, the oldest market food market in London. Held in a Victorian building in South London just south of London Bridge, this market offers a wide variety of artisanal foods and fresh produce. With over 70 stalls specialising in a range of foodstuffs, including cheeses, breads, fish, meat and imported goods. The market is open Thursday through to Saturday.

Brick Lane Market
Probably the most offbeat market in East London, Brick Lane is open on Sunday beginning at eight in the morning. A popular spot for those who are out bargain hunting. This market offers wares like antique books and fashionable vintage apparel. Although it closes at two in the afternoon, the area is home to several shops, art galleries and restaurants that you should be sure to visit after you finish browsing the marketplace.

Portobello Market
Located in the trendy Notting Hill neighbourhood of London, this is the market to visit if you love fashion. This is the largest antiques market in the world and it specialises in vintage apparel and jewellery. The market is open every Saturday, and surrounding shops are open Monday through Saturday. Be sure to bring cash, as most merchants do not accept credit cards.

Red Market
If you love to eat, this is the market for you. Red Market is the first late-night food market in London. Located in North London, this market boasts an urban beach with fresh cocktails and live street art. Award-winning delicacy street food is available here: feast on Swedish meatballs or mushroom risotto while you roam. Red Market is open Saturday night until three in the morning and on Sunday until midnight, so plan to stay out late when you hit this hot spot.

Columbia Road Flower Market
A visit to the open-air Columbia Road Flower Market in Central London is a must for anyone who loves flowers, gardening or the outdoors. With over fifty booths selling flowers and gardening supplies, this colourful market is open on Sunday mornings. The surrounding shops offer a wide range of goods, from bread and cheese to antiques.

Spitalfields Market
The oldest market in London, Spitalfields is now open seven days a week. There was a time when Sunday was the only day the market traded. Housed under a beautiful glass canopy, the market and shops offer the very best in fashin, art, interiors and food.

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Events that take place in London

Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:21 am

There are a number of things to see and do when you are in London, such as visiting the zoo and the city’s museums and art galleries. However, for some tourists these are run of the mill events.  Here are five fantastic events in London that take place every year.

The London Marathon
The London Marathon is perhaps the most famous marathon in the world. Attracting over 500,000 spectators each year it is a totally unique event that you can witness. The marathon will have famous athletes taking part but many spectators go on to cheer runners who are running in fancy dress to raise money for a chosen charity. This race is exclusive to London and one of the most exciting events to witness.

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
The most famous boat race ever, this event takes place around March or April.  This boat race attracts huge crowds as everyone wants to see which one of the two distinguished colleges will win the race. An old rivalry exists between the colleges and every year over 250,000 spectators will gather at the banks of the River Thames to watch the race. The television audience is around 450 million people from around the world.  Tourists visiting London love to watch the boat race.  The event also boosts trade for local pubs and restaurants as many people like to eat and have a few drinks while watching the race.

The Easter Parade
The Easter Parade was first held on Easter Monday in 1885 and the purpose of the event was for the high class society to show off their horses. However, today that has all changed and today instead of horses been shown off it is a wide range of vehicles including old fashioned fire trucks and horse drawn carriages.

Last Night of the Proms
A not to be missed event for classical music lovers. For them this is paradise. Every year around mid September the largest music festival comes to a close with some good old fashioned famous songs like Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. Tickets are very challenging to get, but another event is also held in Hyde Park that attracts crowds in their tens of thousands.

These are just some of the events that are held in London throughout the year that people love attending.  London has many more wonderful events which are held at some brilliant locations including The Natural History Museum, Old Spitalfields Market, The O2 and many more.  So the next time you are looking for something to do, head into the capital and go to an event.

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Old Spitalfields Market a shopper’s paradise

Monday, August 15, 2011 @ 11:20 am

If you ever get tired of the normal high street shops in the West End of London then you are in for a treat if you pay a visit to Old Spitalfields Market in the East End of London.  Hop on the underground and make your way to Liverpool Street station. Spitalfields Market is only a short walk away and once you reach the market you will be privy to many hidden gems. The market is less crowded than the West End and also less stressful than the crowded shops.  The market itself is pleasant and well laid out and creates a pleasant browsing area with something for everyone.

Old Spitalfields Market is a far cry from its beginnings in the 1600’s, when it was set up by the then King – King Charles I. Originally the market was set to sell meat, fowl and vegetables. However, so much has changed since then – modernisation of the market has been the biggest change and now to the west side of the market sits a Norman Foster office building. However, despite the many modernisations, the market still reatians its traditional character – a very lively market at all times.

The market is home to many unique shops and stalls. These shops extend from the main Spitalfields area, across Commercial Street all the way down Brick Lane towards Petticoat Lane which also has a great market.  Thursdays specialist market is for antiques and you will find many people who have travelled the country to see if they can pick up a hidden treasure from the antiques market. Friday is the perfect day for fashion huunters and art hunters all looking for some good buys. However, the best day by far has to be the Sunday market as on this day you can browse everything.

On Sunday you will find a great range of items ranging from hand carved wooden furniture, hand painted china sets, a fabulous range of designer and vintage clothing priced at a fraction of highs street store prices, excellent artwork and photography and stunning jewellery all made by hand. Whatever you are looking for you will most definately find it on Sunday.

If the shopping becomes too much for you then you can take a break at one of the many quaint cafes, trendy pubs or one of the many cultural food stands – Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Chinese etc.

Head to Commercial Street and you will enter a world of hustle and bustle. Trendy boutiques and clothes shops are waiting to be enteres. Finally your whole shopping experience at Old Spitalfields can be finsihed at Brick Lane where you have the choice of relaxing cafe bars, shisha bars and many restaurants.

A trip to Old Spitalfields market is well worth the trip.  A retail pathway through old London really does feel like a place packed full of goodies where there is something for everyone.

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Why Antiques Markets are great places to find stylish and attractive furniture.

Friday, August 5, 2011 @ 10:24 am

Over recent years more and more people are looking at buying vintage furniture pieces for their homes. Many antique dealers across the UK are specialists in these types of furniture pieces. This includes retro furniture, antique furniture, tables, bookcases, elaborate candelabra, lamps and a whole host of other antique furniture

People buy antique pieces mainly for their bedroom or living room and these mainly consist of vintage furniture. Nowadays vintage furniture is becoming very popular, thanks to programmes such as The Antiques Road show and Cash in the Attic. Vintage furniture is furniture that is not old enough to be antique and not new enough to be modern. Many antiques fairs across the UK sell this type of furniture. As well as Vintage furniture many buyers look for vintage clothing as this is something of a new trend. Vintage furniture is finely made with huge attention paid to every detail. It is a sense of attraction and fascination that survives the test of time. An extensive variety of furniture styles can be considered as vintage. Some dealers make use of this term for all types of furniture, including contemporary.

Along with vintage furniture many people also tend to look for French furniture as this is by far the most admired furniture from the vintage period simply because it is stylish and has been for many centuries. Having French antique items in your home can make it look attractive, give a striking appearance to your home.  French furniture can be spotted instantly thanks to its style and look. It immediately transforms an otherwise dull room into a stylish one.  French furniture is available in many styles. Whether you choose modern or traditional, the furniture is adaptable to any surrounding.

Retro furniture is another popular choice of furniture for the home.  This became apparent as people began to admire the style and concept of that particular era.  Retro furniture is of a more contemporary appearance and furniture makers are being more involved in flouting the normal concept or retro when it comes to home equipments. The concept of contemporary furniture is truly extraordinary and amazing; everybody would certainly like to own such furniture. Retro furniture brings a magical effect into any home.

The UK has many antique markets and fairs. Perhaps one of the most popular is the Old Spitalfields antique market. Held every Thursday you will find many sellers and buyers at the market looking for the elusive antique to add to their collection. Whether you are looking for antique furniture, vintage clothing or just want a great day out, you will not be disappointed. Everything is under one roof so you can enjoy browsing the various stalls as well as enjoy chatting with the stall holders and other antique lovers.

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