User:Joey236/Truman Markets

Truman Market The Truman Markets, more commonly known by the colloquialism Brick Lane Market, is a London marketplace centered around Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets. It inhabits in the historic 11-acre venue Old Truman Brewery. It is located at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in the heart of East London's Bangladeshi community.

The Truman Markets are composed of five markets: the Boiler House Food Hall, the Tea Rooms, the Backyard Market, the Sunday UpMarket, and the Vintage Market. The Boiler House Food Hall, open every Sunday from 11am to 6pm, is located in the Old Truman Brewery's Boiler House and houses a diverse selection of food stalls ranging from Japanese and Mexican to Peruvian and Carribean-Asian fusion in its 7,700 square feet of space. The Tea Rooms, open Saturdays from 11am to 6pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, is a market named for its large selection of teas and coffees as well as antiques, silk cushions, and traditional baked goods. The Sunday UpMarket, open every Sunday 10am from to 5pm, is housed in the Old Truman Brewery's Ely's Yard (just off Hanbury Street), an old service yard and one of East London's busiest roadways. Ely's Yard also hosts many events and holds other shops, bars, restaurants, and artwork by the prominent street artists Banksy and D*Face. The Backyard Market, operating by the same hours as the Tea Rooms, is located in the Brewery's U Block, on the east side of the Brewery's estate. Lastly, the Vintage Market is open not only on Sunday from 10am to 5pm, but also both Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 6pm.

The Truman Markets are located in close proximity to several other landmarks, including the Old Truman Brewery and Old Spitalfields Market. The closest London Underground stations are Aldgate East and Liverpool Street. The London Overground Shoreditch High Street station is also within walking distance.

Early History
The Truman Markets originally developed in the 17th century as a lone farmers' market that was held on Sundays due to religious observances by the area's then-prolific Jewish community. During the 20th century, the Brick Lane area experienced an influx of Bangladeshi immigrants who transformed the marketplace. Even today, Brick Lane is very famous for its curry houses.



The modern Truman Markets
The modern Truman markets are composed of five different markets, all opened at different times in the past decade.

The Sunday UpMarket, opened in 2004, and has over 200 stalls that sell a variety of food, fashion accessories, crafts, clothing, and more. Many of the stalls are independently-run and offer one-of-a-kind or handmade items that have been manufactured by the stall owners.

The Backyard Market was added later, in 2006. Formerly a warehouse, it is now a bustling market with over 100 stalls and 8,000 square feet of open space housing these stalls. The Backyard Market offers an eclectic mix of independent businesses and retail outlets, such as cafes, boutiques, and hair salons that cater to a diverse clientele, with a special emphasis onarts and crafts.

The Tea Rooms, founded in 2009, have a great range of stalls offering a variety of teas, coffees, baked goods, furniture, antique goods, collectibles, handmade goods, inspiring homewares, and more.

The Boiler House Food Hall, founded in 2010, holds numerous food stalls which with a diverse selection of cuisines ranging from Japanese and Lithuanian to Mexican and Caribbean-Asian fusion. Food is available freshly-made right in front of your or prepared same-day at reasonable prices and portions.

The Vintage Market is composed of stalls owned by British and European vintage specialists and offering old clothes ranging from the early 1920s to the 1990s. Also offered are accessories, vintage records, and a random collection of unique old trinkets.

The Truman Markets were previously well-known for selling stolen bikes. However, following a crackdown by London's Metropolitan Police Service in September 2010, the problem of stealing and selling bikes decreased significantly. The Metropolian Police Service developed a Cycle Task Force in June 2012 and by February 2011, they had administered protective security marks to over 10,000 bikes and made over 100 bike-theft-related arrests.

Nearby Attractions
Christ Church Spitalfields: A restored church built in 1729, the Christ Church is only a short walk from the Truman Markets. Currently, it serves as a art gallery and concert hall, and is regarded as a mecca of the arts in London.

Columbia Road Flower Market: Established in 1869, this now famous gathering of gardeners began as a Saturday trading market. After the Jewish population began to grow, the market moved to Sunday and primarily serviced the local neighborhood of homes with gardens. Now, the flower market is internationally-known and is accompanied by a number of shops that add to the thriving market atmosphere.

Whitechapel: An art gallery that is renowned for its community involvement, the Whitechapel is one of the first publically funded galleries in London. It has showcased work by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko, and Frida Kahlo, as well as contemporary artists like Sophie Calle, Lucien Freud, Gilbert & George, and Mark Wallinger. The Whitechapel also prizes art education, offering youth programs and family-friendly art classes. Accordingly, the gallery’s stated purpose is to “bring modern and contemporary art and ideas to local, national, and international audiences by providing a place for free-thinking, creativity, and learning.”

Old Truman Brewery: Once one of London’s largest breweries, the Old Truman Brewery is now home to roughly 250 businesses, shops, and eateries. In addition, it features several weekly markets, including the Sunday UpMarket, the Vintage Market, the Backyard Market, the Tea Rooms, and the Boiler House Food Hall. Known for its urban architecture, the Old Truman Brewery is often the subject of photography. It is has also served as a host to photographers exhibiting their work.

The Gherkin: Opened in 2004, this eye-catching glass building, formally known as 30 St Mary Ave, was designed by Norman Foster. It stands 180 meters tall and is composed of 24,000 square meters of glass. Maximizing natural light penetration and reducing the use of artificial lighting, the Gherkin’s aerodynamic shape also capitalizes on wind pressure differentials to produce natural ventilation. This unique architecture has, however, been called phallic despite the many awards it has earned. At the ground floor, the public can access a plaza with outdoor seating and restaurant service.

Finsbury Circus: London’s oldest public park, dating back to 1606, is a common recreation area that is known for its well-maintained grounds. Originally, it was part of the Finsbury Manor, which consisted of several homes for wealthy inhabitants. When the Manor transitioned into a series of office buildings, the garden was opened to the public and is now a hotspot for employees on their lunch hour. Due to its age, it is of great importance to the English Heritage Society.

Layout of Market
The Sunday UpMarket, the Vintage Market, the Backyard Market, and Tea Rooms and the Boiler House Food Hall are all located within the confines of the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. More specifically, Sunday UpMarket is found at the intersection of Brick Lane and Hanbury Street. The Backyard Market is situated further up Brick Lane between Dray Walk and Buxton/Quacker Street.

The Backyard Market
The Backyard Market was established in 2006 and is one of the Truman Markets’ youngest vendors. Housing over eighty stalls, The Backyard Market is unique in that it allows young artists and designers to be part of a creative community in which they have the opportunity to showcase their work and to sell unique arts and crafts. The Backyard Market was the first of its kind in the area to open on Saturdays.

The Boiler House
Dating as far back as the 1830’s, the Old Truman Brewery’s Boiler House serves as both a historical landmark and the site of Brick Lane’s food Hall. Visitors are allowed to dine outside in the beer garden, or be seated inside around the great chimney at the lounge bar.

The Boiler House is home to over thirty stalls of international cuisine; each housing a variety of dishes ranging from Italian or Polish delicacies to Japanese or Mediterranean dishes.

The Sunday UpMarket
The Sunday UpMarket first opened in September of 2004. They have over one-hundred forty stalls and sell a variety of products including vintage and handmade clothing, handmade accessories, music, arts and crafts, and organic food. Many of the items that are sold at UpMarket are one-of-a-kind items that are produced by the stallholders themselves. Stallholders frequently sell their products directly to the customers, as UpMarket is a self-reported “platform for emerging designers and organic cuisine”


 * Rosie Wonders - No longer located at the Sunday UpMarket, the Rosie Wonders stall was known for their handmade greetings cards, jewellery, and prints.


 * Charme Accessories - A stall that specializes in handmade silver and semi precious jewellery.


 * SPDR - A stall that sells Urban clothing.


 * Suda Jones/2T - A stall that produces products made entirely out of rubber.


 * Art of Revolution - A stall that sells authentic Soviet and Cuban revolutionary era art.


 * East End Prints - A stall that sells graphic art prints featuring artwork from thirty designers, artists, and illustrators.


 * Vault Vinyl - A stall that sells rare and hard to find vinyls ranging from Jazz to Hip Hop music.

The Tea Rooms
“The Tea Rooms” is a coffee shop located off of Brick Lane. Located downstairs, underneath the main cafe, is a vintage clothing and accessories store that specializes in antiques and homeware.

The Vintage Market
The Vintage Market is frequented by vintage clothing specialists from across Europe and the UK who want to show off and sell their wares.