Flags, bunting and even a "royal" visit were the order of the day at Barnet Market to help celebrate the 823rd birthday of its royal charter and the first anniversary of its new-found trading freedom.
“King John I” – in real life Barnet-born actor Edward Dogliani – toured the stalls, keen to remind stallholders and customers that the market was granted its charter on August 23, 1199.
He was not empty handed. A tray of cakes smoothed his way – a tasty offering for stallholder Tyler Bone (above) who is joint proprietor of Barnet Market Ltd which now operates the twice-weekly market on behalf of the management of The Spires shopping centre.
Having assumed responsibility for managing the market, Tyler and his partner, Andy Gardiner, a fellow fruit and vegetable stallholder, have succeeded in welcoming a wide range of new traders including stalls selling bread and cakes, cheeses, chocolates, and other specialist foods and produce, as well as their traditional offerings such as fruit, vegetables, eggs and fresh meat and poultry.
“In our first year we’ve achieved a lot and won back lost traders. We have 12 stalls this Saturday, and once the schools are back, we hope to increase that to 15. We are also building up the number of traders on Wednesdays,” said Tyler.
The next challenge for Barnet Market Ltd is to get more space for stalls. One option is to see whether is any chance of expanding the market to take in the wooded grass banks and seating area on the other side of the service road to the Waitrose supermarket.
The land is under the shared ownership of The Spires and Barnet Council and the two market proprietors hope to have discussions in the coming months with local councillors and the management of the shopping centre.
“What we want above everything else is more room for additional stalls. That has to be our priority.”
Tyler and Andy hope to arrange events at other Saturday markets between now and Christmas.
Staging an 823rd birthday party seemed an ideal way of welcoming customers back after the lull in trade during the summer holidays.
Barnet actor Edward Dogliani, of Game of Thrones fame, was only too happy to help, posing in front of medieval stocks and an unlucky offender, Isaac Dogliani, who had brought along his guitar to help entertain customers.
"King John I" posed with the market’s oldest trader, David Bone (71), father of Tyler Bone.
David started work at the Barnet at the age of eight in 1959 when his father, Albert Bone, opened the first fruit and vegetable stall, at what had hitherto been solely a cattle market. Mr Bone died last year at the age of 95.
