Bristol Market
Next Market – Sunday 1st August 2010
The award winning Bristol Slow Food Market is back with a fresh look for Summer. Head down to St Nicholas Market on 1st August between 10.00am and 3.00pm for a delicious mix of artisan food stalls, special menus, cooking demonstrations and a celebration of all things slow.
Slow Food Bristol was founded in January 2004 with a small gathering of people around a table. One of our primary aims was to set up a really good weekend food market to complement, but not compete with, the excellent Farmers’ Market held each Wednesday on Corn Street.
Slow Food Bristol now runs the first regular Slow Market in the world. It has received awards and international recognition.
It is already the largest food market in Bristol, with the widest choice and Slow Food Bristol in conjunction with Bristol City Council are committed to increasing its size and range. 2009 should see the market going international with visits from food producers from France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and, of course, Italy.
The market can be used as a focus for food related activities in or around Bristol, such as cookery demonstrations or producer visits. We would encourage chefs, schools and others to contact us about how the market can be used.
The Award winning Bristol Slow Food Market is held on the first Sunday of every month on Corn Street in the centre of Bristol (map).
OWNERSHIP
The market is organised by Slow Food Bristol in partnership with Bristol City Council’s Markets Office.
The BCC Markets Office deals with all the general administration, advertising, provision of stalls, canopies, water, power, stewards, refuse collection etc. and much of the PR/marketing, including the distribution of flyers/posters.
Slow Food Bristol operates under the aegis of the international Slow Food movement and thus is responsible for ensuring that the quality and range of produce offered for sale at the market conform to the principles of Slow Food (see below).
MEMBERSHIP
Our aim is to make the Bristol Slow Food market one of the best food markets in the country. In order to continue to do this we need to keep reviewing and improving the quality of the produce on offer. The composition of the market will therefore develop accordingly. Acceptance for a pitch at a particular market does not guarantee acceptance at future markets. Acceptance and continuance as a stall holder is at the absolute discretion of the Slow Food Bristol markets committee.
CURRENT CRITERIA
The crieria will develop and evolve with the market. Currently they can be summarised as follows:
Quality: Quality is at the heart of the Slow Food ethos. The decision as to whether produce is of a sufficiently high quality rests at the absolute discretion of the Slow Food Bristol market committee – we endeavour to visit all potential traders and sample their products before they are offered a pitch, and we continue to monitor products to ensure high quality is maintained.
Local and seasonal: We want fresh food that is local and seasonal wherever possible. Where there are applications from two or more producers of similar products of equal quality, we will favour the more local.
Environment: Produce must be grown, raised, caught or prepared in a way which is sustainable and which causes minimal environmental impact.
Processing: Food that is processed in any way should be produced using traditional recipes and methods.
Meat and dairy produce: Our meat and dairy products should come from animals that are reared locally, are treated well, killed humanely, hung properly and butchered with skill.
Organic produce: Some of the produce may be organic, but that is not part of the criteria; quality is the key and organic produce is not necessarily local, seasonal or of a high quality.
Presentation: Part of the attraction of the market is aesthetic – the colour, display and variety of the stalls adds to its attraction. It is important that stalls are well stocked and that the produce is attractively displayed.
It should be noted that:
The Slow Food market makes no financial profit for its organisers.
The input from Slow Food members is given on a voluntary basis.
Fees charged to stall holders only partially set off the costs incurred by the Council in administering each market. BCC Markets Office has pledged that if any profits are generated in the future, they will be ploughed straight back into the development of the market.
or ring Bristol City Council Markets Office on: 0117 922 4014
For other enquiries, click here to contact Nick Miller
