Business  Features

New Home for New Covent Garden Flower Market

New Covent Garden’s New Market Opening – London

Published on
April 18, 2017

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London’s home of flowers has moved.

The ribbon has been cut, the boxes unpacked, the stands arranged. After 43 wonderful years, the Flower Market at New Covent Garden Market has a new home. Remaining in Nine Elms, in the heart of London, it’s now half a mile down Nine Elms Lane from its old spot.

The market dates back to 1670. Its first incarnation was under Charles II’s reign, situated in Covent Garden market square (hence the name). Then in 1974, the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK moved to Nine Elms. Since the beginning of April, you can now find the glorious Flower Market at SW8 5BH Nine Elms Lane.

In this new location, the market will be starting a new era at the heart of the country’s floristry industry. Not only does it supply 75% of London’s florists (from high street retailers to high-end event companies), it also hosts a community of expert traders, creative florists, fancy hoteliers, wedding planners, event organizers and all sorts of characters.

The market’s flowers end up in London’s royal palaces, shops, market stalls, hotels, offices, parties, homes, weddings and funerals.

As the UK’s premier flower market, New Covent Garden Market houses two Royal Warrant holders supplying blooms to the countries most prestigious households. The market’s well-known customers include the The Dorchester, The Savoy, and celebrity and royal florists Simon Lycett, Shane Connolly and McQueens, supplying the likes of the BAFTAs, the V&A, Natural History Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral , and Vanity Fair. Many of the traders at the market are third or even fourth generation and these ladies and gentlemen are the thoroughbreds of the floristry world, holding an exceptional level of knowledge and expertise on flowers, plants, foliage and sundries through the decades and from around the world. The market is unrivalled when it comes to sourcing of the best quality, seasonal flowers from the UK and around the world.

Pam Alexander, Chair Covent Garden Market Authority, said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer our traders and customers a better, more inspiring space to buy and sell flowers. Our wholesalers’ knowledge, expertise and relationships are the life blood of everything that goes on at the market and we’re hopeful that this new home will help them and their customers to take on new creative challenges and grow their businesses ever further.

“The Flower Market is the first new market building here at New Covent Garden Market. Over the coming five years, we are transforming the whole site into a Brand New Covent Garden Market for our 175 businesses and thousands of customers, and will be creating a new Food Quarter and food business hub for London. All the while, continuing to feed and flower London throughout.”

The new building is designed for a better buying experience: Bright lights, simple layout, modern features and a cosy café. Go visit this brand new space to experience the cornucopia of colours, beautiful bouquets and fresh flowers.

Members of the public are able to visit from 8:30am to 10:00am, Monday to Saturday, to look around and experience this wonderful world of flowers.


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