Market in England

Today we’ll go with you on a tour to the market in the small town of Devizes, located in the southwest of Britain. Markets in England are mobile or street markets that operate once a week at the same time and in the same place.

This place is the market square or, as we commonly say – the Market Place. After the selling time ends, this market moves to another town, then to the next and the next. And so it goes strictly according to the schedule and timetable.

Devizes is a small town in size, with not many residents. But on Tuesday, market day, fans of shopping at the market and of fresh produce come from neighboring villages – for the emotions and the chats with acquaintances – thanks to which the town comes alive and fills with energy.

The rules of the market are clearly defined, taking into account competition and the needs of both local residents and visiting customers. At the market, you will see only two fruit and vegetable stalls, two cheese and sausage stalls, and one van selling meat and fish – no more are allowed, because the organizers care about the income of regular market traders. If you want to book a spot with a similar range of goods already offered by permanent sellers, you will be refused.

In larger towns, there may be more stalls – this depends on the town’s population. On rainy days or in bad weather, the market might not “arrive,” or not all traders will be present, as there are few customers and little demand on such days.

At the market, you can buy vegetables, salads, greens, fruit, berries, clothing, jewelry, plants, household essentials, sweets, cured meats (ham, bacon, local black pudding…), cheeses, olives, a bit of dairy produce, and eggs from local farmers.

However, dairy products are usually bought in stores and supermarkets, where they are indeed of good quality and cheaper. Eggs are also less common at the market. Eggs from local farms cost more than those in supermarkets because these eggs come from select hens that live on farms (not in large poultry factories), eat fresh grass, and spend the whole day outdoors.

Thanks to its climate zone, Britain grows many vegetables and fruits locally, but a sufficient amount of imported products is also available at the market.

Vegetables grown specifically in England—such as carrots, cabbage, potatoes, beets, onions, beans, corn, and even sweet potatoes—are marked with a special “Made in Britain” label at the market.

Buyers willingly support local producers by purchasing domestic products, even if sometimes they can be more expensive than imported ones. Generally, vegetable prices remain stable without significant fluctuations, while fruit prices can vary depending on the growing season and purchase prices from producers.

Don’t be surprised if you hear very loud voices of male sellers at the market, calling out and advertising their goods to customers while simultaneously informing “competitors” about price changes. If there is demand, prices may rise; if not, they may drop.

Haggling or asking for discounts is not common here—you either agree to buy or you don’t. All product prices are displayed on signs, so buyers know exactly how much each item costs and can decide if the price is suitable (and to avoid being overcharged). This is very convenient because knowing the price, customers prepare their money in advance, speeding up the seller’s work.

One thing that surprised me is that scales are only available at two points: the meat and fish stalls, where goods are sold by weight. All other products are sold “by the bunch,” in packages, food containers, or bowls. The bowls are all standard-sized and filled right in front of you from boxes or crates, either by eye or by counting pieces.

For example, such a bowl can hold 3–4 eggplants depending on size (usually fairly uniform), 2 grapefruits, 500–600 grams of potatoes, a full bowl of cherry tomatoes, 3–4 small pumpkins, a bowl of carrots, parsnips, peppers, lemons, bananas, and other products.

Corn, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, on the other hand, are usually sold individually—two pieces for £1 to £1.50. Cheese and sausages are not weighed either; everything is pre-packaged.

If there is a promotion, you can choose three types of cheese at a special price. The key is to check the offer in advance.

At the meat stalls, you’ll find the beloved English puddings—with meat, fish, or vegetables. This is a special dough shaped like a bowl, filled with various fillings inside.

All purchases are packed either in paper or plastic bags, which are included in the purchase price. So to save time, think ahead—do you need a bag? Because if you do, you will be charged an extra 10 hryvnias for it.

You can pay either in cash or by bank card. I really like this approach. Customers don’t waste time while the seller weighs the product, and the seller can serve more customers.

Market hours are limited, and rain can come at any moment, scaring buyers away. That’s when the market ends, and sellers are left with unsold goods, so they need to hurry to sell their products as quickly as possible.

I hope this article was interesting. Please write in the comments about markets from which countries you would like to learn more, and I will definitely prepare the material.