Billingsgate Market is planned to close by 2028, with operations expected to move to a new site at Albert Island in the Royal Docks, which will also house a relocated Smithfield Market. This new hub, likely named "New Billingsgate," is intended to centralize wholesale fish, meat, and poultry, although some reports indicate a potential permanent closure without a direct replacement.
On December 3, 2025, Albert Island at the Royal Docks was announced as the new preferred site to co-locate Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets. These markets will become known as New Smithfield and New Billingsgate Markets.
April 2019: The City of London Corporation announces plans to move Smithfield, New Billingsgate and New Spitalfields markets to one mega-site in Dagenham. November 2024: Dagenham is off! The City of London announces that the markets will still close, but they will NOT now relocate to Dagenham.
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.
The markets will continue at Smithfield and Billingsgate until at least 2028, giving time for Traders to plan and smoothly transition to new sites, subject to the Bill being passed. The markets will be known as New Billingsgate and New Smithfield respectively once they relocate.
London’s Historic Markets: Closing Doors on a Millennium of Trade | World News | The Daily Guardian
Who currently owns Smithfield Foods?
Joseph W. Luter, Jr. Then known as Shuanghui Group, WH Group purchased Smithfield Foods in 2013 for $4.72 billion. It was the largest Chinese acquisition of an American company to date.
A Smithfield Foods spokeswoman said that the smokehouse had reached the end of its useful life and that the company has plenty of genuine Smithfield hams stockpiled to satisfy immediate demand.
You may often buy them fresh, and forty per cent, cheaper, on the intermediate days. By purchasing at Billingsgate, you may buy at one-third of the price which fish-mongers charge; and if you lay out a few shillings, it will pay for a person to carry them home, or it may be sent by the Parcel-post.
When the plan was made public, in April 2019, excitement was expressed about the City of London Corporation, owner of the Smithfield meat market in Farringdon, Billingsgate fish market in Poplar and the New Spitalfields horticultural produce hub in Leyton, consolidating all three in one place.
Billingsgate and Smithfield markets are set to relocate to a new joint site on Albert Island in east London's Royal Docks, under plans unveiled by the City of London Corporation and the Greater London Authority. The proposal follows the Corporation's decision last year to scrap a previous move to Dagenham.
Can the public buy fish or is it trade only? Yes! Just remember cash is still king at Billingsgate. Also, this is wholesale, bulk buying, so it's by the kilo or box, which can be a lot of fish.
Lincoln Christmas Market was axed in 2023 by the city's Labour-led council due to concerns about overcrowding. The Conservative opposition proposed a £190,000 increase to City of Council's budget to fund the market's return.
In 2025, 68% of London leavers stayed in the South of England (South East, South West or East of England) – the highest proportion since 2021 and up from 62% in 2024. This marks a reversal of the pandemic and then affordability-led trend that pushed buyers further into the Midlands and North.
Papa's Fish and Chips is the World's Largest Fish and Chip Shop located on Cleethorpes Pier. The restaurant offers unrivalled access to Cleethorpes central promenade and the best views of any restaurant on the East Coast.
Bow combines the convenience of Zone 2 living with a more relaxed, residential feel. With great access to both Canary Wharf and the City, it's an ideal spot for commuting professionals. This is 4 of Top 10 Areas to Buy Property in East London in 2025.
Aldi can offer affordable seafood because it buys fresh and frozen fish in bulk, sells it for less, and has partnerships with multiple fisheries and farms.
Last month we saw the first fully licenced bluefin tuna caught on a commercial vessel in Newlyn. The landed fish weighed in at 245 kg and made a sale price of over £14 per kilo a whopping total of over £3400! However, tuna catching is highly regulated, and rightly so.
My Waitrose members can enjoy 20% off all fresh fish from our service counter every Friday. Whether you are looking for a quick midweek-style supper or a premium fillet for a special dinner, our partners are on hand to help you pick the best of the catch. Visit us in-store to see what's fresh today. 🛒
The Goring has held a royal warrant of appointment from Queen Elizabeth II since 2013, and it is the only hotel to have been granted this honour. In 2011, Catherine Middleton and her family were based at the hotel for the days around her wedding to Prince William.
Luxury living defines Mayfair, and the area has become a favourite to bed down in for the international elite – billionaire business owners from all over the world love the exquisite properties, the cache of being in the most exclusive zone of London, and the proximity to areas that trip off the tongue for prestige ( ...
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.
Ham that has gone bad may have a sour or sulfur-like odor, a slimy texture, or visible signs of mold or discoloration. If you notice any of these signs, the ham should be disposed of immediately in a durable trash bag.
