Billingsgate Market Reviews Summary

Market Environment

Pros:

• "Very few people are allowed and distance measures are observed."
• "The queue was long, but moved very quickly and orderly despite the social distances,"
• "Very busy and lively environment at 4:15am when I got there."
• "A wonderful fishmarket bristling with patrons alike."
• "An amazing place, can't believe it doesn't smell of fish, tells you a lot about the place and what it sells, fresh fish does not smell so what your getting is really fresh."
• "A great experience with a real buzz atmosphere and quality fish and seafood at excellent prices."
• "Get up early and head for the colourful lively buzz that is Billingsgate fish market."

Cons:

• "The security man shouted to him loudly and I went to him and explained again we were only minutes away from the entrance."
• "A very arrogant and aggressive man!"
• "I thought a lot of the sellers weren’t very nice, the place felt very disorganized."
• "Some staff a bit rude, but overall it was good."
• "Security staff are rude, cocky & stuck up."
• "Absolutely disgusting with the social distancing. NOBODY paid attention to the law."
• "A very lively fish market, the place where authentic trades take place."

Product Quality and Variety

Pros:

• "Fresh and quality products."
• "Good prices, great variety of fresh and frozen fish and seafood."
• "The seafood and fish are great."
• "You will get fresh and frozen fishes. There were huge varieties of fishes."
• "Lots of fresh fish and other sea food."
• "The freshest quality seafood produce in London at very reasonable wholesale prices."
• "The selection of fresh seafood is amazing."

Cons:

• "Sea bream was already spoiled and a horrible smell from it when I got home, and seabass not fresh at all."
• "went there early this morning got a load of frozen crab legs told they was fresh frozen,when opened up later most was empty and when there was meat in them it was grey & spongy, had to throw most of them all away, disgusting feel robbed."
• "Be careful when ordering oysters as we got very bad oysters. When we opened the oysters they were green and tasted horrid."
• "They tend to sell oldest fish first... so you choosing something from display and they going to the back and choosing old (smelly cod fillets) or open mussels, and pass to you in the tied bag."
• "I bought pomfret and mackerel and was annoyed when I reached home as there were rotten ones mixed plus it wasn't cheap."
• "its only cheap because its rottendotcom. the prawns i had from this place put me off prawns for life."
• "Maybe some people don’t know what ‘fresh fish is’ but surely not all the fish at the market is fresh."

Pricing and Value

Pros:

• "The prices are generally half the price of a high street supermarket but with a ridiculous amount of choice."
• "Compare to prices it’s cheaper if you buy in bulk."
• "The price is very reasonable, compared to the marked up super market prices."
• "Prices are between 2 to 3 times cheaper than in supermarkets."
• "Beautiful fresh fish at knockdown prices to beat anything on the high street."
• "The prices are much cheaper than anywhere in London, for that kind of quality and freshness."
• "prices are low"

Cons:

• "Overpriced. The only traders that are transparent with prices are the foreign ones."
• "There are still bargains to be had, but the market is becoming expensive."
• "The prices compared to what you can buy at the supermarket are insanely cheap."
• "As for the fish, the prices are getting ridiculous for the ordinary buyer."
• "prices went up after reopening"
• "Parking is min of 2 hrs and it is now increased to 3+ pounds."
• "I went today and the Salmon prices where extortionate along with the bass and bream."

Accessibility and Convenience

Pros:

• "10 mins walk from Canary Wharf station."
• "There's a tea shop at the corner and a washroom as well."
• "Parking fills very quickly, so probably best to get there earlier than I did which was roughly 6am."
• "You can conveniently reach this market from the Canary Wharf Jubilee station, which is a 12-minute walk away."
• "Brilliant location. Plenty of parking and you could pay either by coin's or by online."
• "Always fantastic get the best fish and service from my absolute favourites Fawsitts Fish where the lovely Paul and Lee will provide you with the best seabass, salmon, seabream mussels clams scallops...you name it they have got it and if they don't they will find it for you."
• "A must go place for seafood lovers!"

Cons:

• "I went at 7:30am but the tills were closed or cleaning."
• "Car parking is already full when we got here at 520. Has to queue for the parking."
• "A month later they send me parking fine, say i refused to pay my parking."
• "The car park is pay and display with a £4 minimum so bear that in mind."
• "The parking it's a nightmare, the app is really expensive and you can not exchange money easily."
• "Be aware that you will have to use Ring Go to pay for parking."
• "There is no toilet outside of the building and the queue could be 2 hours or more in early morning."