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.
Image Credit: Metro [Meat is displayed during the Smithfield Market Christmas meat auction in the City of London, as traders auction off their surplus meats to the public in a tradition that spans back a century. Picture date: Tuesday December 24, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning/PA Wire]
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.
Image Credit: Metro [epa11791874 People wave cash during the Christmas Eve turkey and meat auction at Smithfield Market in London, Britain, 24 December 2024. Every year people flock to London's Smithfield Market to purchase poultry and meat ahead of Christmas Day.?? EPA/ANDY RAIN]
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.
Image Credit: Metro [LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 24: The annual Christmas Eve meat sale at Smithfield Market on December 24, 2024 in London, England. For the past century, the historic Smithfield Market traditionally holds a meat auction on Christmas Eve, where traders sell off their surplus meats. Last month it was announced that Smithfield, the largest wholesale meat market in the UK, would permanently close by 2028, alongside Billingsgate fish market, after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them. The closure will bring to an end over 800 years of trading meat at the site. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)]
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.
Image Credit: Metro [People attend the Smithfield Market Christmas meat auction in the City of London, as traders auction off their surplus meats to the public in a tradition that spans back a century. Picture date: Tuesday December 24, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning/PA Wire]
![[Meat is displayed during the Smithfield Market Christmas meat auction in the City of London, as traders auction off their surplus meats to the public in a tradition that spans back a century. Picture date: Tuesday December 24, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234177893-ae5e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[epa11791874 People wave cash during the Christmas Eve turkey and meat auction at Smithfield Market in London, Britain, 24 December 2024. Every year people flock to London's Smithfield Market to purchase poultry and meat ahead of Christmas Day.?? EPA/ANDY RAIN]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234180208-076f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 24: The annual Christmas Eve meat sale at Smithfield Market on December 24, 2024 in London, England. For the past century, the historic Smithfield Market traditionally holds a meat auction on Christmas Eve, where traders sell off their surplus meats. Last month it was announced that Smithfield, the largest wholesale meat market in the UK, would permanently close by 2028, alongside Billingsgate fish market, after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them. The closure will bring to an end over 800 years of trading meat at the site. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234178274-c8ff.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[People attend the Smithfield Market Christmas meat auction in the City of London, as traders auction off their surplus meats to the public in a tradition that spans back a century. Picture date: Tuesday December 24, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234177861-af4e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
