The oldest meat and fish markets in London, which date back 850 years, are facing permanent closure from 2028. Smithfield meat market, near St Paul's Cathedral, and Billingsgate fish market in Canary Wharf are to be closed after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them.
The corporation decided in a separate vote last November to permanently close Smithfield and Billingsgate when it pulled the plug on a planned £740m relocation to a new site in the east of the capital at Dagenham, blaming rising costs.
It has been confirmed that Dublin's Victorian fruit and veg market in Smithfield will finally reopen in 2026. The historic red brick building on Mary's Lane, between Capel Street and Smithfield, has remained empty since its closure in 2019 to facilitate redevelopment.
The mainly covered market will close by 2028, said the City of London Corporation, explaining that it had dropped its plans to relocate it to Dagenham, in the capital's eastern suburbs, a project that had become "unaffordable" due to "external factors, including inflation and the increasing cost of construction." Since ...
Can the public buy? Anyone can buy meat, poultry and provisions at Smithfield. It is open to the public by Charter: walk through the Market, look around, talk to the salesmen on the front of the stalls. You will find a wide choice and high quality produce at excellent prices.
As the largest wholesale meat market in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, Smithfield Market is a cornerstone of London's culinary scene and a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.
The City Guides run walking tours of Smithfield for members of the public on a monthly basis. Hear how Smithfield meat market has changed throughout its 800 year history and experience its working life first-hand on this special tour.
If the plans proceed, the Smithfield site will become home to the new London Museum, while the land at Canary Wharf that will be unlocked by relocating Billingsgate could provide around 2,000 new homes, it said.
On 26 November a decision was taken by the Court of Common Council to end the planned move of Billingsgate and Smithfield markets to a new location in Dagenham, and instead to provide financial support to the traders to enable them to move to new locations of their choosing.
Smithfield was almost a city within a city – and one with its own hours. To give customers time to buy and prepare their meat for sale the same day, the market opened at night.
As a leading pork producer, Smithfield is renowned for its scale, innovation, and focus on sustainability. The funds raised through the IPO will provide the company with financial flexibility to expand operations, enhance sustainability efforts, and explore new market opportunities.
What are some interesting facts about Smithfield market?
Dating back to a 1327 charter issued by Edward II, Smithfield is the oldest meat market in London, its proximity to the River Fleet and to grazing sources making it a handy place to bring livestock to trade.
Meat has been traded at Smithfield Market for more than 800 years, making it one of the oldest markets in London. A livestock market occupied the site as early as the 10th century.
The Dagenham site was acquired by the City in 2018 from Barking Power Ltd, and announced as a potential option for bringing Smithfield, Billingsgate and, initially, the Leyton-based New Spitalfields fruit and vegetable market, also owned by the City, together in the same place.
Billingsgate's site near Canary Wharf is set to be transformed into some 4,000 new homes; meanwhile, Smithfield is set to be regenerated into a “cultural and commercial hub” to accompany the new London Museum, set to open next year in a once-abandoned section of the market.
Jason Holland. Billingsgate fish market – which is the oldest fish market in the U.K. capital of London and what was once the world's largest fish market – is set to close in 2028 after the City of London Corporation recently decided to withdraw its support.
While many are concerned for traders and the loss of the market's unique sights, sounds and smells, the corporation's decision – blamed on rising costs – is just the latest step in the decades' long transformation of the wider Smithfield area.
New Spitalfields Market, another market in London focused on fruits and vegetables, will not close as part of the City of London Corporation's move, according to the press release.
The announcement by the City of London Corporation in November that Smithfield market is to close after almost 900 years of trading has been met with surprise and dismay. Many Londoners fear Smithfield's special sense of place will be lost for good as a result.
We are also the largest fresh pork processor in the United States with approximately 23% market share as of Fall 2023, according to National Hog Farmer.
Did Smithfield Foods price its IPO below its market range?
The offering was priced at $20 per share, Smithfield said, below the $23-$27 per share range that would have raised as much as $939.6 million. Smithfield raised $260.9 million in the offering, while the rest was raised by the selling stockholder, a unit of its parent company WH Group (0288.HK) , opens new tab.
Entry to the Christmas Market is free of charge while for certain attractions such as the Ice Rink and Ice Museum, advance purchase of tickets is recommended via the website. Tickets for the Big Wheel are available on site. Find out more at www.christmasspectacular.ie.
The Smithfield Christmas Market launched last year and, while it definitely didn't contend with the big European markets, it was a welcome addition to the city. The new market boasts Ireland's first Ice Museum, an ice rink, a Big Wheel for city views, market stalls, and a cozy Nutcracker Snug.
Subject to the successful passage of the Bill, the redevelopment of the Smithfield site will create an international cultural and commercial hub, complementing the London Museum. The Grade II listed building will be reimagined to preserve its history while evolving into modern, state-of-the-art facilities.
