Meg's Hackney Gazette Column: Market on Ridley Road is not under threat

Hackney is famous for its markets – whether it’s fruit and veg, fish and meat on Ridley Road (such a lifeline in the pandemic), or the original recycling market on Kingsland Waste, or the newer arrivals like the now established Broadway Market – there is something for everyone. 

I’m concerned to hear local residents worried that Ridley Road Market is under threat of closure. And a stall holder was contacted by a wholesaler this month believing the same.  

Let me be clear: it isn’t. In fact, the opposite is true. Ridley Road Market is not just safe, it is thriving. And a crucial part of the vibrant ecosystem that give Londoners access to fresh food. 

Trading since the late 1880s, it is home to over 100 stalls. It's a national award-winning market – one of the most diverse and one of only a few 24/7 markets in the UK. It marks religious festivals including Eid, Ramadan, and Christmas with special events, and the council’s market team supports new traders with a training programme to help them grow their business. 

And only last month it began Sunday opening with the launch of the Ridley Road Sunday Collective. This brings an eclectic range of small businesses selling everything from natural skincare to books, clothing, and ceramics, as well as the street food that so reflect the cuisine of all of Hackney’s different communities.  

Hackney Council and the Mayor of London have backed Ridley Road’s future with a £1 million programme of improvements completed in 2023. And the local Dalston Plan specifically protects the market from development. By law markets must pay for themselves – running costs are not funded by our council tax. It is stall holders’ fees that pay the day-to-day costs. 

There are still concerns about anti-social behaviour which particularly affect residents close to the market. I am working with local residents to press the council and Police to tackle this so everyone can enjoy a thriving market without the potential downsides. 

I am also working with the Mayor of Hackney to secure a lift at Dalston Kingsland station, which serves the market, to encourage more people to use the market and shop in Dalston.  

So if you hear any rumours about the market’s future – let them know that Ridley Road Market isn’t under threat. It’s evolving, growing, and continuing to serve Hackney. Encourage them to come to experience a proper East End welcome.