Never been to Billingsgate Market

[ambuletz]

I've never been, I'm keen to go and take my father.

Q:What's PH's thoughts on the best time & day to go?
Is it also cheaper to buy from then going to a local small seafood place?

We have a large chest freezer. We're 20min away down the A13 (non peak time), so easy to get to. He has a blue badge so perhaps that might help with parking.

I've no idea what they sellbut interested thingswould include:
fish: Mackerel, Red Snapper, King fish, tuna, parrot fish, baraccuda, travalley, grouper, swordfish, shark, marlin
seafood: octopus, whelks, tortoise (whilst I know this wouldn't be sold. I'd actually be amazed if this was), stingray

Just fancy going before they move in afew years time.

[Venisonpie]

You need to go very early (I went 430am), they sell everything, be careful who you buy from. There are traders who sell good fresh stuff, others dotted around the periphery who don't.
As usual, clear eyes and bright red gills are the key to freshness.

[craigjm]

They have a carpark with about 400 spaces in it. Its £3 an hour last time i was there.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Venisonpie said:

There are traders who sell good fresh stuff, others dotted around the periphery who don't.
As usual, clear eyes and bright red gills are the key to freshness.

Yup, look for traders who match this description.

[vaud]

Watch this before you go as well - GaryEats is a youtuber with some great food recommendations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niEBwUvMhA&ab...

[vaud]

ambuletz said:

seafood: octopus, whelks, tortoise (whilst I know this wouldn't be sold. I'd actually be amazed if this was), stingray

Since when was a tortoise a seafood?

[TIGA84]

vaud said:

Watch this before you go as well - GaryEats is a youtuber with some great food recommendations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niEBwUvMhA&ab...

I was going to post the very same thing.

I'd go just for that Scallop/Bacon roll!

[vaud]

TIGA84 said:

I was going to post the very same thing.

I'd go just for that Scallop/Bacon roll!

Me too!

[TIGA84]

vaud said:

TIGA84 said:

I was going to post the very same thing.

I'd go just for that Scallop/Bacon roll!

Me too!

His reviews are oddly addictive, I think its because he's just a nice normal bloke reviewing normal food from everyday places in a way that 99% people would critique it - portion size, value for money, service, cleanliness etc. rather than the gushing or scathing bullst that most reviewers do about complicated Michelin star stuff. Its quite sweet in a way.

[vaud]

TIGA84 said:

His reviews are oddly addictive, I think its because he's just a nice normal bloke reviewing normal food from everyday places in a way that 99% people would critique it - portion size, value for money, service, cleanliness etc. rather than the gushing or scathing bullst that most reviewers do about complicated Michelin star stuff. Its quite sweet in a way.

They are quiet relaxing to watch and very relatable. Having eaten in some of the places he has reviewed, I think he is also pretty accurate.

[Andy 308GTB]

I used to buy boxes of fish there for Pike fishing years ago. None of it had a price on it, I witnessed a few interesting prices being thrown out there, so it's worth going to a few traders. I used to go at some daft hour, I think Saturdays was seen as a day for the general public but I could be wrong.
It's a fascinating place, some weird & wonderful fish (and people)

[Petrus1983]

Whilst I can't make it to the actual market I'm absolutely sold on the scallop and bacon roll. Talk about learning something new every day - can't wait!

[21TonyK]

vaud said:

ambuletz said:

seafood: octopus, whelks, tortoise (whilst I know this wouldn't be sold. I'd actually be amazed if this was), stingray

Since when was a tortoise a seafood?

Strangely enough, today I was showing a Sir Lankan chef a picture of my wife holding a baby tortoise she rescued on holiday... he did ask (with a smile) if we ate it.

[PhilAsia]

21TonyK said:

vaud said:

ambuletz said:

seafood: octopus, whelks, tortoise (whilst I know this wouldn't be sold. I'd actually be amazed if this was), stingray

Since when was a tortoise a seafood?

Strangely enough, today I was showing a Sir Lankan chef a picture of my wife holding a baby tortoise she rescued on holiday... he did ask (with a smile) if we ate it.

More moreish than an oversized pistachio nut apparently:

[Venisonpie]

vaud said:

Watch this before you go as well - GaryEats is a youtuber with some great food recommendations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niEBwUvMhA&ab...

He's enthusiastic but I'm not sure you learn a lot. States the obvious, rambles on and I've no idea about how his breakfast tasted other than the bacon is smokey, salty and the scallops are creamy. Oh, and obsession with river of beans.

How did he choose the scallops, why that vendor, etc. The whole of Billingsgate to reveal and he spends most of the time poorly reviewing a fry up.

[ambuletz]

Venisonpie said:

vaud said:

Watch this before you go as well - GaryEats is a youtuber with some great food recommendations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0niEBwUvMhA&ab...

He's enthusiastic but I'm not sure you learn a lot. States the obvious, rambles on and I've no idea about how his breakfast tasted other than the bacon is smokey, salty and the scallops are creamy. Oh, and obsession with river of beans.

How did he choose the scallops, why that vendor, etc. The whole of Billingsgate to reveal and he spends most of the time poorly reviewing a fry up.

^those were my thoughts too. wasn't much to take from that video about the actual market. Like when do they start trading, deals etc.. i'm told that they all are cash only.

[vaud]

ambuletz said:

^those were my thoughts too. wasn't much to take from that video about the actual market. Like when do they start trading, deals etc.. i'm told that they all are cash only.

It wasn't ever meant to be a Billingsgate Market review.

I shared it as a food review - as an aside for an interesting café to consider visiting if you were going...