Huge Wave of Support for Expanded Street Food Market

But some High Road businesses say it has driven down takings

The new application would allow over 60 stalls

January 5, 2024

Over 90 emails have been sent to the borough’s licensing department to express support for a new licence for the Food Street Market in Chiswick.

The Licensing Panel is due to meet on Wednesday 17 January following a three-month trial period for the event on the fourth Sunday of the month in Old Market Place.

The markets so far have had a limit of 20 stalls with the area covered by the event restricted to the western end of the car park.Thus far, only 15 stalls have been present each month.

The extended licence would allow up to 62 stalls stretching down the High Road as far as Metro Bank meaning it could be four times the size of the markets held so far.

Support for the market predominantly came from individuals who generally said how much they enjoyed attending the events so far and that they believed it was a significant benefit to the High Road. One respondent who said that they owned two cafes in the area said that there had been a significant boost to trade on market days.

There were only around 20 objections to the new application and some of these were not against in principle. The William Hogarth Trust was concerned about the impact of stalls being close to the statue of Hogarth including the possible damage that might be cause by cooking fats. It was also felt that the presence of stalls would “greatly reduce the dignity of the landmark and minimise respect for Hogarth and for the sculpture.” The Dukes Meadows Trust was concerned about confusion with its existing weekly food market on Sundays and wanted the licence to preclude the sale of fresh produce.

Other objections came from a local residents’ association for an area near the market site. It raised a whole series of grounds which it felt should prevent the Panel from granting a new licence including those concerning the impact on the High Road, litter and parking issues. It said its own survey had shown a majority of its members were against the market.

A number of businesses also lodged objections with one saying that the fourth Sunday of the month had seen a decline of nearly a thousand pounds in the day’s takings compared to the average for the time before the market was running.

An earlier Food Street Market in Old Market Place

Cllr Joanna Biddolph submitted a comprehensive range of reasons why she felt that Food Street Market should not be allowed to continue focusing on the impact on existing bricks and mortar businesses.

She said, “The trial has shown it has had a detrimental effect on cafés and restaurants that sell food. If it is allowed to continue, even at a reduced level of 20 stalls maximum, it could be devastating for Chiswick’s cafés and restaurants. Any increase in the number of stalls could be catastrophic. This is the wrong place for a food market of any sort.”

According to Cllr Biddolph a number of local businesses have told her privately that they are reluctant to object to the market despite the negative impact it is having on their business and comments to the licensing department being redacted.

Some have spoken to ChiswickW4.com directly on condition of anonymity. The owner of one local café said, “Anyone telling you that setting up a food market is going to help food businesses in the area is a complete joker. Obviously, our takings have been noticeably down on the market days although we are far enough away for it to be not too painful. I didn’t make comments on the application because some people have very strong views and there is a risk of being boycotted.”

A manager of a chain restaurant nearby said, “I didn’t really notice a downturn on market days, but our central accounting people did raise the fall in takings that coincided with the first two events. They told me not to do anything about it.”

Richard Johnson, the market organiser, commissioned freelance market researcher Susie Mullen, who is a member of the Market Research Society, to survey the views of people at the markets in October and November. The respondents had an overwhelmingly positive view and there wasn’t a single negative overall response out of the 151 people who completed the seven-question survey.

The survey revealed more information of the demographics of people attending the market showing the average age was 41, with 56% of respondents female and 68% from outside the W4 postcode area.

39% of people from beyond Chiswick’s borders drove to the market with 35% saying they walked and 20% using public transport.

89% of attendees from Chiswick walked and 4% of all people attending came by bike.

91% of respondents said they were likely to visit a shop while in Chiswick in November compared to 58% in October. This may be a result of the weather or people already having started their Christmas shopping.

When asked for specific comments about the market people generally suggested improved seating arrangements and more space between the vans to allow for easier queuing.

The licence, if granted at the meeting later this month, would run for a period of six months. It could then be renewed on reapplication through officers delegated authority unless there were further objections received in which case the application would resubmitted to members of the licensing panel for determination.