You know Kerb? The King’s Cross-based purveyors of some of the finest independent streetfood stalls over the last few years? (Yup, that’s you Bill or Beak! Donostia Social Club! Mother Flipper! Rotli Crew!)
Well, the big news today is that they’re taking over things at Camden Market’s West Yard from late next month.
It’ll be the indie specialists’ first permanent site in the capital – and immediately one of the largest food markets of its kind in Europe.
As well as dishing up lunch every day to workers and tourists, the deal for locals is that the stalls will be open every evening from Thursday to Sunday.
So for the first time ever, those of us who live in the area (but work elsewhere) will actually be able to pop down after work and enjoy this really quite lovely waterside spot – without the hordes of weekend tourists.
Kerb founder Petra Barran started out in the food business back in 2005 when she hit the streets with Choc Star, “Britain’s only dedicated chocolate van”. Falling in love with the transient on-the-road community and “opening the hatch to people all over London”, her next step was to start a loose collective of like-minded traders. She first established Eat.St in 2009, and Kerb three years later.
The new 8,000 square foot space will be re-designed to enhance the canal backdrop; but most importantly, they’re intent on addressing current hygiene and overcrowding issues. If you’ve been there for a weekend wrap you’ll know how packed it can get – and it’s pretty chocka even on weekday lunchtimes, too.
With that in mind, stalls will be spaced out more evenly, with bespoke benches and tables installed so diners can grab a comfortable place to sit and actually enjoy their scran – without being jostled as they are now.
“Camden is the perfect place for us to grow our mission and engage Londoners with the best and most diverse food offering out there,” says Petra. “We’re very excited to be working with the Camden Market team to help curate a new era for this historic market.”
So what of the current food traders in the West Yard? “They’ve all been invited to apply for Kerb status,” she says, a tad cryptically.
Which means, we imagine, that sadly not all will stay. But we hope that as many as possible do – our office is nearby and we eat at the market regularly (not to mention having written about the likes of Fish & Dish, for example). “There will be opportunities elsewhere in Camden Market for those who either don’t wish to, or are unsuccessful in applying,” says owners Market Tech.
Those that become or continue to be a hit with both locals and visitors alike will be able to expand and grow into permanent cafes, bars and restaurants within the market itself.
This article was updated on June 15th.
