Shocked food traders at Greenwich Market were told on Tuesday night that the management would be cutting the number of stalls allowed to sell food.
Market traders were “stunned” as landlords, Greenwich Hospital, dropped the “bombshell” at a routine meeting that they wished to “reduce the offering” at the market. Currently between 20-25 traders sell food at the market over the weekends.
One market trader who was present at the meeting told Greenwich.co.uk he was now expecting to be given one month’s notice .
“It’s like being told you’ve got cancer and you’ve got a month to live”, he said.
The trader, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that “Greenwich Hospital has built us up” but are now treating traders like “their playthings”.
Edward Dolby, Resources Director at Greenwich Hospital, told Greenwich.co.uk that no trader had been given notice to quit but that they do plan to “rationalise the hot food offer in the market which has been allowed to expand progressively in recent years”.
The management is proposing renovating the old George II unit within the market – expected to take a couple of months to complete – and making it available for six food traders for up to six days a week “if there is sufficient demand”.
Dolby adds, “Nothing will be done precipitately or without prior consultation and whatever is decided, high quality hot food will continue to be a significant feature of Greenwich Market”.
I would like the opportunity to unravel some of Mr Dolby’s double speak here.
Indeed “no trader has been given notice to quit” but it was quite clearly announced at the meeting that this was their intended course of action by the end of next week.
“Rationalising the hot food offer” sounds businesslike but it means destroying the livelihood of around twenty traders and decimating one of Greenwich’s best attractions.
“Renovating a unit” appears conciliatory but will only preserve the truncated businesses of six traders.
Make no mistake, this is not a well meaning attempt to improve the market but a large scale clearance to prepare for the much dreaded redevelopment.
I tend to agree on the conspiracy theory. Anything to do with the firm of ‘consultants’ they hired to push the awful redevelopment scheme through I wonder? Having said that, the food outlets are crowding the other stalls and the market is giving a very mixed message. A good regeneration scheme would provide a new area for the food outlets instead of the gross overdevelopment that is planned. Where the vehicles currently park would seem a good option and when/if the council pedestrianises the road outside, stalls could easily move there.
Let me guess, is it the INC Bar that is allegedly withholding rent until some of the “competition” is removed? Perhaps I am being unfair to the INC Bar.
Yoohoo, Greenwich Hospital, you are working to an outdated business model. You are doomed to fail because the coming Austerity will empty the restaurants, with their overheads and NI and PAYE and so on. Shops, too, will have a hard time selling “frippery” with 20 per cent VAT on it (come next January).
Market stalls are what draw Londoners to Greenwich and enhance the international tourist visitor experience. The whole country is going to have to enjoy something a bit more Dickensian over the next five years or so, than we have been used to for the last 20 years, and your business model is soooooo 1980s. It’s doomed.
i have been a food trader for the last 3 years at the market and have enjoyed it
and i know that most of the people that visit come mainly for the hot food i.e
the ,brazilian steak rolls,the lovely indian wraps,thai food and the stall that does the roast beef sandwiches and dinners,so why would you want to put an end to something that brings in the most customers ?
aswell as the arts and crafts stall complaining that the food makes there goods smell!! what a load of rubbish, it was originaly a food market check the history and you will know
i think it has got a lot to do with jealousy aswell
“Greenwich Hospital recognises that the market has a unique character, which is due to its range of independent shops and stalls. The Hospital is committed to retaining the character of the market ”
how exactly is Greenwich hospital demonstrating its committment by its continual onslaught on removing our local traders
Join the growing protest against Greenwich Hospital’s closure of the food court.
Visit the market to sign the petition or go online:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/foodcourt