Food Market in Margate Old Town - what a great day!

It started off a bit windy just before the market officially opened, but it blossomed into a glorious day of sunshine. the stalls looked fantastic and there as a lovely selection quality produce. The Benedictine Monks from Ramsgate sold a record number of pots of honey which just goes to prove that specialist quality products do have a place in Margate. Pictures from the day below and a video by Tim Spencer. Thanks, Tim!







We had to share the Market Place with the visiting Chinese delegation. TDC kindly chucked us off the pre-booked Market Place on the morning of the market. Nice one, TDC! But let's not let this blip spoil the day. Here's looking forward to possible food markets to come.

NEW SUMMER FOOD MARKET COMES TO MARGATE

getting very excited now about next Saturday's food market that's coming to the Old Town. There's a great selection of Kentish food stalls and coupled with it being bank holiday weekend, it should be a great and delicious day. Then on the Sunday there will be a mixed market and up in Cliftonville the Farmer's Market at the bandstand.

It's on Saturday 29 August 11am – 4pm, as part of the Summer Markets organised by the Old Town Action Group. The market begins outside The Visitors’ Information Centre running down Duke Street and into Market Place.


Let's hope it's the first of many markets to come.

To get your tastebuds going, here's a selection of the stalls that will be there:

1. The Indian Princess – if you haven't yet eaten Dev’s food, come and see what all the fuss is about. They’ve been on BBC South East, and are about to be filmed as one of the best restaurants in Kent (if not THE best)!
2. Quex Barn – taste their succulent sausages, barbequed in front of you on the day. Local meat – what could be better?
3. Windmill Community Allotment Project – if you haven't yet bought “organic” fruit and veg at their Tuesday stall by the allotments (12-4pm), here’s your chance to taste what they and other allotment holders are growing in our local soil
4. O’er the Moon – for those of you with a sweet tooth, Simon sells scrummy sweets and fudge
5. Fairtrade – we’re now acknowledged as a Fairtrade Isle so buy your biscuits, and packs of teas and coffees here. Let’s send a supportive message to those who are feeling the credit crunch even more than we are!
6. Benedictine Monks at Ramsgate – sample their own honey, and make yourself and your house beautiful with their Organic Beeswax lip balms, hand & skin creams and Beeswax polish
7. The Market Garden – to feed your soul … The Chelsea Flower Show has arrived in Margate! Beautiful and high quality garden plants. Rose specialist.
8. German Sausage Man – one of our new local businesses, bringing you genuine, hearty German sausages, schnitzel and sauerkraut
9. Paul Hollywood Breads – who are supplying Harrods & Waitrose, so why not stock up on their speciality breads?
10. Ellie’s Dairy & Ashmore – delicious local cheeses from cows and goats, as well as chutneys to bring out the flavour and apple juice
11. Chai Stop – buy your Indian spices and taste the delicious and affordable Indian food they cook
12. Stylish Ice Cream – luscious old-fashioned, traditional ice cream scoops, with no additives, chemicals or colourings

Kent Food Market, Margate Old Town Stalls

Anyone who would like to take a stall at the August edition of the Old Town Market, please get in touch with Louise: louise.oldfield@gmail.com.

The market theme is Kent Food. It runs from Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th of August from 11am until 4pm on both days.

Yesterday's arts and crafts market went well. Especially like the pretty striped stalls.

The Tudor House was literally full when we got there! Will do a dedicated post to that effect next, but just goes to show what a vaulaable attraction it is that despite being closed, it suddenly fills up when a board saying 'Open' is outside!

local food producers in Thanet?

I listened to an excellent edition of the Food Programme on Radio 4 today. It was visiting the Slow Fish expo in Genoa which is part of the Slow Food movement. They were accompanying cornish oyster fishermen, members of Slow Food Cornwall. It lead me to look up to see if there is a local representative within Slow Food UK locally in Thanet. Looking on the map it seems that Thanet doesn't seem to have a rep, which is a shame. The nearest is the Weald and Kent and is inland.

The promotion of sustainable fishing for the area that serves the local community would be a great concept and could only improve domestic tourism to the area. You've only got to see how well Whitstable has done from its connection with quality local seafood as an example.

I'm still looking for quality local food producers and retailers for the food market in Margate Old Town taking place on the last weekend on the 29th and 30th of August. Pop me a mail if you are interested.