UK’s oldest meat market holds auction ahead of potential closure after 800 years

Cuts of prime meat are offered at bargain prices (Picture: Reuters)

London’s oldest meat market has held what could be one of its last Christmas Eve auctions ahead of its potential closure after more than 800 years.

Smithfield Meat Market has been a constant in London for centuries, with the City of London Corporation given the right to run the meat market and other wholesale food markets back in 1327.

The City of London Corporation, which runs the Smithfield meat market, previously planned to relocate it and the Billingsgate fish market to a new £1 billion development in Dagenham.

Luckily, traders will be able to continue their operations at the markets until at least 2028, the corporation said – but this could be one of the last Christmas auctions if the historic market does make the move.

Today, crowds put on their coats and gathered at the historic meat market near Farringdon to stock up on festive food ahead of Christmas, waving pounds in hopes of getting some festive food.

The Smithfield Market has held its pre-Christmas meat auction for the first time since 2019 – where sellers auction off surplus meat which hadn’t been sold during the festive period.

Meat is put on display for buyers to bid on at the market (Picture: PA)

Hopeful bidders wave notes at the event (Picture: EPA)

Some attendees wore very fitting holiday attire (Picture: Getty)

This year’s mood was jubilant as families held signs reading ‘Turkey please’.

The Christmas Eve auction was paused during the pandemic, only returning last year to the joy of locals.

Cuts of meat are sold for low prices, with some sellers even opting to offer meat at the toss of a coin. Locals return each year in hopes of getting prime meat sold for bargain prices.

But it’s over almost as soon as it begins, with the event lasting just under two hours on average.

Children held signs and wore festive hats (Picture: PA)

Even young butchers were helping out this year (Picture: AFP)

The Christmas meat market at Smithfield has a rich history (Picture: Hulton Archive)

The current market site was built in 1868, with Billingsgate designed by the same architect when it was redeveloped in the 19th century.

The UK’s largest inland fish market was moved to its current site in Canary Wharf in 1982. The City of London Corporation runs the site and pays ground rent.

There are proposals to transform the land of the current Billingsgate site for a mixed-use housing scheme.

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