Leigh Farmers' Market Reopens

June 20, 2021

After, what feels like a lifetime, Leigh Town Council are excited to welcome back our regular Farmers’ Market at Leigh Community Centre.

Due to the pandemic, our Farmers’ Market has been closed since February 2020. During this time we have been operating virtually through our Facebook page but opening our doors again will feel like a special moment for the council, our stall holders and customers. And, we will open with a bang! The first market coincides with our 21^st birthday market which we plan to celebrate by returning bigger and better than ever – with new stalls, more variety and outside space!

There will be no August Market but we will return fully from September… and include a new monthly Saturday market as well as our usual market on the third Friday of the month. We hope the new Saturday market will reach new customers and benefit our stall holders, who are eager to return.

Leigh Farmers’ Market is the longest running market in Essex and prides itself on delivering local produce to our residents for the past 21 years. The late Councillor Janet Hammond, had been campaigning for some time for a local farmers’ market and had travelled throughout Essex to gain appropriate knowledge and contacts. Her efforts came to fruition in 2000 with the support from then Council Chairman, Donald Fraser. The market was later run by Janet’s husband, David Hammond for many years until David retired as a volunteer and council staff carried on their work. On the 16^th July 2021, our Councillors are looking forward to cutting a birthday cake alongside David Hammond in celebration of the market.

Many of our stallholders have been attending our market for many years and we also look forward to welcoming some new stalls too upon reopening. We provide a range of stalls selling all different types of homegrown produce including meat, veg, cheese, eggs, bread, pastries, honey, spices, desserts and so much more. The stall holders must have grown or made the goods themselves, and all traders come from within a 30 mile radius of Leigh-on-Sea.

The market is held at Leigh Community Centre the first Saturday of the month and third Friday of the month, 9am-1pm.

• Friday 16th July 2021 – 21^st birthday celebrations
• NO AUGUST MARKET
• Saturday 4th September 2021
• Friday 17th September 2021
• Saturday 2nd October 2021
• Friday 15th October 2021
• Saturday 6th November 2021
• Friday 19th November 2021
• Saturday 18th December 2021  – Christmas Farmers’ Market

The stallholders attending the market are as follows:

Margaret Raymond Florist – Fresh flowers

Blaze & Co – Natural grain free dog treats, with good quality ingredients.

Totham Bangers – high quality hand made gourmet sausages, burgers and chorizos.

Perkys Savouries – Home made additive free pies

LOS truffles - handcrafting luxury chocolate truffles from our family recipe dating back to 1960. All are made using the finest quality Ingredients & free from Artificial Colours, Flavours & Preservatives.

Bean & Boy Handmade Soap
From Southend, family run business making handmade soaps. Gift boxes, baby soaps and sensitive skin products available.
www.beanandboy.com

Ann Cushion's Honey
From Leigh-on-Sea, Ann's Honey lovely sells set and runny honey from her local hives.

Blaze & Co - *NEW FOR 2021*
Handmade pet bakery and boutique.
www.blazeandcotreats.com

Bradfields Farm Dairy
From Benfleet, a family run farm producing pasteurised milk, cream, cheeses (soft and hard) and yogurt using the milk from our own herd of Holstein Fresian cows.
www.bradfieldsfarm.co.uk

Flour and Spoon
A small artisan bakery based in Leigh-on-Sea providing hand mixed and hand shaped sour dough bread. Breads can be pre-ordered through their website.
www.flourandspoon.com

The Food Beaver
Unique spice blends and seasonings containing all natural ingredients, suitable for meals with meat, fish and vegetables.
www.thefoodbeaver.com

Gambardeli
Offers a range of vegan products including meat free steaks, sausages, burgers and deli items.
www.gambardeli.co.uk

Hoppily
Hoppily bring the finest craft beers from local, independent brewers to discerning beer-lovers
www.hoppily.co.uk

Lovely Bread & Stuff
A small allergy friendly baker based in Leigh, specialising in handmade gluten-free products & believe that good food should be available to everyone to enjoy.

My Choc O'Leight
An artisan company that offers the finest hand-tempered and masterfully sculpted silky smooth chocolates, using select ingredients supporting 'healthier choices'. They focus on design, purity, taste, texture, and variety for fair and affordable prices.
mychocoleight.co.uk

The Perfect Pudding Company
From Leigh-on-Sea, originally selling just Christmas puddings and cakes, but they have now expanded to make their own pickles and chutneys, sold throughout the year with an ever increasing catalogue of varieties available.
www.perfectpudsofleigh.com

Sarah Green's Organics
From Tillingham, offering a wide range of seasonal vegetables.
www.sarahgreensorganics.co.uk

Sharpening Solutions
Sharpening blades of all sorts including garden tools, knives and scissors (specialising in hairdressing scissors) for households and businesses.
www.sharpeningsolutions.co.uk

South East Essex Organic Gardeners
In-depth knowledge on organic gardening and plants for sale.
www.seeog.org.uk

David's Kitchen