Photo: Klea Sybilla

It was our second Flash Fashion event, where a huge team of volunteer models, stylists, make-up artists, photographers and marshals collaborated to bring style to the streets.

Photo: RowanWilliamsPhotographs.co.uk

Four groups of models, each styled with a different theme, strutted their stuff through the market streets, stopping to pose on special Flash Fashion podiums. The finale featured all the models, interspersed with musicians, coming together to promenade the ‘red carpet’ through the centre of the market.

Photo: Suzann Saar

Flash Fashion will be back for Autumn/Winter 2013/14 on Saturday 7 September.

Photo: Klea Sybilla

Photo: Suzann Saar

Photo: Tony Annis

Photo: Tony Annis

Photo: Klea Sybilla

Photo: Tony Annis

Photo: Suzann Saar

On Saturday 13 April the market will be celebrating its fashion credentials and the arrival of spring with its second Flash Fashion event.

A team of stylists will select from the fabulous dressing-up box that neighbourhood stalls and shops provide to create outfits reflecting Spring and Summer 2013’s top trends. They’ll mix clothing, jewellery and accessories by both established designers and up-and-coming talents, exquisite vintage, bargain second-hand finds, classic pieces and fast-fashion.

Flash mobs of models representing real people of all ages, shapes and sizes will turn the market streets into their catwalk throughout the day, striking poses and interacting with shoppers. Amidst the buzz of the market, it’s a recipe for inspiration, fun and fabulousness.

Follow @Flash_Fashion on Twitter for updates.

In the February 2013 issue Elisabeth is featured posing in a traditional Afghan robe at Sitara, 237 Portobello Road.

Like many fashionistas, she’s a fan of the vintage at Portobello market on Fridays, and name-checks Golborne Road’s Lisboa as a favourite cafe.

Thanks Vogue!

The awards were presented by Communities Minister Don Foster at a ceremony last Thursday, where the market was cited by judges for its diversity and community involvement.

It’s the second award to come to the market in recent weeks, after traders Mohammed and Ibrahim Siteri won the Best Takeaway or Street-food category at the 2012 BBC Food and Farming Awards late last year, for their Moroccan Soup stand in Golborne Road. (There’s a post about them here.)

As part of the event, would-be market traders had the chance try out their selling skills with a stall for a day. It was so popular it’s happening again from 15th to 29th May 2013.

Love Your Local Market 2013 will be even bigger and better, and as winners of the 2013 Market of the Year Award for Best Street/Outdoor Market, we’re hosting the official national launch.

Fancy taking part? Here’s what you need to know:

• There’ll be 300 slots spread across the fortnight at sites on Portobello Road, Portobello Green and Golborne Road markets.
• A day’s trading will cost £10, including a temporary street trading license, a pitch, insurance for the day, and the provision of a stall. (If you then decide to trade regularly, this is refundable against the registration fee.)
• Community groups such as schools, religious groups, charities and fundraisers are welcome to join in.
• Products on sale can be almost anything, old or new although there are restrictions on food.
• You’ll need to be fully registered for the scheme at least one week before the day you trade on.

If you’re interested in taking part and would like more information, email the RBKC Street Trading Office here.

Registration to trade in 2013 is now closed. Subscribe to our emails, like us on FaceBook or follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with plans for next year.

Portobello Road has been a busy food market since the mid-19th century. It has fruit, vegetable, fish and meat stalls that are family businesses going back generations. Many make a point of stocking varieties you won’t easily find in any supermarket, so why not try something you’ve never had before?

Plus there are stalls with many other foods, and a myriad of interesting ingredients and cookware in specialist local shops, even a bookshop that sells just cookbooks (with a cafe in the back).

This makes the market a favorite for chefs and cooks, professional and amateur enthusiast alike. Here are a few;

Yotam Ottolenghi is pictured buying produce from Portobello Market in ‘Plenty’ and made Spanish supermarket Garcia his choice for The Guardian’s feature on Britain’s Best Independent Shops in December 2012.

Tom Parker Bowles cited Portobello Market as one of his favourite food sources in a recent M&S magazine.

Gordon Ramsay featured The Spice Shop in his TV show ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery Course’.

Click here for more about our specialist food traders and shops.

To eat right away, there’s street food from all over the world, including the Moroccan Soup stand in Golborne Road, winner of the 2012 BBC Food and Farming Award for best street food, plus dozens of independent cafes and restaurants.

On the third Friday of each month the market celebrates seasonal produce and locally bought ingredients with a Road Food cooking demonstration.

Each month a guest cook shops on the market in the morning then conjures up a delicious dish with what they’ve bought, right before your eyes. On Friday 18th January it’s cook and food writer Celia Brooks. Follow @RBKCRoadFood on Twitter for updates.

Taste buds tempted? See you soon!

At this year’s BBC Food and Farming Awards, the Best Takeaway or Streetfood category was won by Mohammed and Ibrahim Siteri.

The Siteris cook and serve their award-winning Moroccan soups at their stall in Golborne Road from Monday to Saturday except Thursdays, and source all their ingredients locally from Golborne Road’s fishmonger, butcher and specialist Moroccan stores.

Portobello and Golborne Road street markets have more than 20 regular hot food stalls with cuisine from all over the world, from Africa and the Middle East to Spain, Germany, France, Mexico and the Caribbean. Plus, in the weekend, Acklam Village Market opens its doors with even more.

If you’re inspired to get cooking yourself, you’ll find an equally diverse choice of ingredients from our street market stalls and specialist food stores (find out more here).

Look out for Road Food cooking demos by guest chefs on the third Friday and food tastings on the third Saturday of each month in the centre of the market. Follow @RBKCRoadFood on Twitter for updates.

You never know who might be standing next to you while you’re buying your fruit and veg. This Saturday morning our Prime Minister, David Cameron was shopping on the market.

Also seen here recently have been singer Taylor Swift buying antiques; super-chef Heston Blumenthal, comedian Stephen Fry and music stars Annie Lennox and Paul Weller.

There are plenty of interesting non-famous visitors too. Yesterday dozens of scooter lovers arrived en masse (possibly in search of vintage army-surplus parkas), bringing a stunning array of Vespas and Lambrettas to Portobello Road.

The huge white one here (weighing in at 50kg/110lb) has already been sold, but you’ll still find a good choice here.

Happy Halloween!

The market Christmas tree in Tavistock Square Photo: Tony Annis

The market is open as usual right up to Christmas, though on Christmas Eve it’ll close by 4pm. There’s no street market on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, but there will be trading on Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th December (and at Portobello Green on Sunday 30th). After Wednesday 2nd January it’s back to normal hours.

Through to 23rd December, there are special Winter Sundays markets, with around 40 street stalls from 10am to 4pm close to the Portobello Green Sunday market under the Westway. On sale are roast chestnuts, handmade gingerbread, Christmas-themed knitwear, toys and gifts.
 

Alongside the market, each Winter Sunday there’s entertainment in Tavistock Square.

Here’s what’s coming up:

 
16th December – 1.00-1.30 Colville Primary School choir, 1.30-2.00, jazz-influenced singer-songwriter Neelay Bailey, 2.00-2.30 original ‘ethereal dubstep’ from Laura Jayne Hunter, 2.30-3.30 West London folk/reggae act Cats on Ladders

23rd December 1.30-2.00 operatic tenor Adam Music, 2.30-3.30 double bass supremo Bad Fingers Bundy

Also in Tavistock Square on 16th and 23rd December will be Father Christmas. Adding to the festive atmosphere, for the first time, we’ve got a market Christmas tree, kindly sponsored by A1 Group, standing proud in the middle of Tavistock Square, and Christmas lights along Portobello Road and Golborne Road.

The Notting Hill Shopping Bag Company has created exclusive Portobello Market Christmas wrap, based on the drawings by local children which feature on their bags. At their Winter Sundays stall, you’ll be able to buy a sheet of the paper or have a gift wrapped for just £1. All proceeds will go to the K & C Foundation, which supports many local charities throughout the borough.

No matter what day of the week you visit, you’re sure to find fantastic gift ideas to suit your budget.