One of the questions I'm often asked is how I choose the venues for our markets.
The answer is actually very simple. I don't just look for somewhere with enough space or good transport links – I look for places with a story to tell. Places with character, history and atmosphere. I want every market to feel as though it belongs there, and nowhere embodies that more perfectly than Leadenhall Market.
Nestled in the heart of the City of London, Leadenhall has been a place of trade for almost 700 years. Long before the beautiful Victorian market we see today was built, merchants were gathering here to buy and sell everything from meat and poultry to leather, wool and spices. Markets have always been part of its identity, and that's one of the reasons I fell in love with it.
Today, Leadenhall is one of London's most beautiful landmarks. Its colourful painted roof, ornate ironwork and cobbled walkways make it feel as though you've stepped onto a film set. In fact, many people know it as one of the filming locations for Harry Potter, but long before the cameras arrived it had already earned its place as one of London's architectural treasures.
Like much of the City, though, Leadenhall has always had one challenge. During the week it's alive with office workers, cafés and restaurants buzzing with activity. Come the weekend, however, the streets can become surprisingly quiet as the commuters disappear and the City almost falls asleep.
That's exactly why we wanted to be there.
When we launched our monthly market, we didn't simply want to fill the market with vintage furniture, fashion and independent makers. We wanted to help bring Leadenhall back to life on Sundays. We wanted visitors to wander beneath that magnificent roof, discover talented independent businesses and experience one of London's most historic markets in a completely new way.
Five months into this year's season, and 3 years into our collaboration with the city of London it's wonderful to see just how far it's come.
On the last Sunday of every month from April until October, thousands of visitors now wander through Leadenhall Market to visit and shop at our Vintage Furniture Flea. Tourists who stumbled across it whilst exploring London stop to browse alongside local collectors, families enjoying a day out and the familiar faces who return month after month. One of my favourite things is recognising people who came as visitors the very first time and have quietly become part of our little community.
That's what I love most about markets.
Yes, they're places to shop, but they're also places to meet, to chat, to discover something unexpected and to spend time together. In a world where so much shopping happens online, there's something incredibly special about wandering through a historic market, speaking directly to the people behind the businesses and finding something you never knew you were looking for.
Every venue we choose has its own personality, but Leadenhall will always hold a special place in my heart. It feels as though our market belongs there, continuing a tradition of trade that has existed for centuries while giving a new generation of independent businesses a place to thrive.
Sometimes the best way to preserve history isn't simply to admire it.
It's to fill it with life once again.
