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Kingston upon Thames
Dear Bruno, Kingston Ancient Market Place - French Market Congratulations on running such an excellent French Market in Kingston, the feedback from traders and the public has been brilliant, hopefully you should receive calls from at least two local papers reporting on the last market and promoting the next French Market. . . . . . . |
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Hemel Hemstead
Dear Bruno, High Street Beat Sunday 5th August Many thanks to you for your excellent organisation on Sunday. The "French Market" was of great interest to all those that attended the High Street Beat event. In fact we have had many requests to repeat it every week! Do pass our thanks on to all your traders, they left as they arrived, without any fuss or disruption to the High Street. we have nothing but complimentary comments with regard to your market. . . . . . |
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Norwich Ooh-la-la, the French Market Comes to Town Eastern Daily Press, Friday, October 5, 2001 Forget the Channel tunnel and flights to Paris-a little bit of France will be in Norfolk this weekend as traders descend on Norwich with their wares and fares in tow. Now in its third year, the Gallic markets and its traders have made their annual voyage to offer up many temping delights such as cheese, cooked meats, garlic, olives, pancakes, cider and a range of crafts which are on sale from today in Gentleman's Walk. "We try to visit a British town once or twice a year to keep it a novelty experience", said French markets co-ordinator Bruno Girardeau. "The last time we came to Norwich, the people here made us most welcome." With more than 35 stalls running along the Walk today, tomorrow and Sunday, the city centre is set to be a hive of activity. The traders in the town said they looked forward to the event. "It's great for the city, my business isn't really affected because more people come to the town and become aware of my business" said fishmonger Chris Crowe. Organisers from Norwich City Council and the City Centre Management Partnership hope this visit will prove as popular as the previous two. "The French market will create a great festive atmosphere in the city centre," said Helen Selleck, event manager for the council, who added:" I'll be heading straight for the wine, olive and cheese stalls." The French market is open today and tomorrow from 9am to 5pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 5.00pm. The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Keith Ratcliffe, who will visit the market today at 10.30am, said: "Norwich has had market links with France back to the time of the Domesday Book, so I would suggest that they have been at the forefront of good taste." Food is a way of life for the French. And being married to Frenchman, I have long learned that fish fingers and chips for dinner does not go down well with a man raised on such gastronomic wonders as veal à la crème and confits de canard. So here was a real challenge. In its third year, the French market opened yesterday on Gentleman's Walk in the city centre, claiming to bring a little taste of the Continent to Norfolk. Organised by Norwich City Council, all the traders were from France, selling traditional foods, many of which were produced on their own farms. But just how did it shape up for French born and bred Vincent Culot, with his passion for the traditional French markets selling some of his favourites such as horsemeat and snails? Basking in the sunshine yesterday, the market, comprising 36 stalls along the length of the Walk, was teeming with shoppers queuing up to try and buy. And people were not grimacing at the more unusual foods on offer but actually giving them a go. The atmosphere was very convivial, just as at a real French market. Jean Cogswell, 75 from Brancaster, near Wells, was happily downing a few sample glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon at the popular wine stall, run by Patrick Ternon from Normandy. "It's absolutely lovely," she laughed. Meanwhile Jean Blake, 76, and Beryl Smith, 74, from Thorpe, Norwich, were simply enjoying looking at all the different stalls selling not just food but household wares, cloths, children's toys and toiletries. "It really opens up your eyes to how other people eat," said Mrs. Smith. Another happy shopper was Norwich City Councilor Eamon Burgess, who admitted: "I am a vegetarian but every year I have to buy the wild boar sausages, they are so good." For most traders it had meant a very early start yesterday with bread and pastries being baked at 1am in France and brought over, with a new lorry load being transported late last night to ensure products being sold today were fresh. To Vincent, raised in Nice, the market was very pleasing with an excellent choice of Corsican saucissons and seafood, although he was disappointed by the lack of meat. "Obviously a real French market would have rabbits, quails, horsemeat and live crabs and lobsters. Basically, if something has four legs in France, we'll eat it," he joked. French market co-ordinator Bruno Girardeau said it was only because of health and safety reasons that there were no snail, frog's legs or meat on sale. This is on a small scale but does have some very interesting products and some of my favourites - such as Merguez sausages, Soupe de poisson and crêpes with Grand Marnier. Vincent admits he prefers the French market to the Norwich one. Vincent enjoyed chatting in French to the traders and many French customers. Robert and Liliane Nimetz were among them. "We come from Toulouse but have lived in Norwich for 10 years and absolutely love this French market." French Market Returns to Norwich City Centre Back by popular demand. The third French Market returns to Gentleman's Walk in Norwich this autumn on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th October. There will be a variety of stalls selling all sorts of wonderful foods and crafts, transforming the Walk into a French-style boulevard. You will be able to try and buy cheese, wines, sausages, olives, cakes and pastries all sorts of delicacies and not forgetting the wonderful strings of onions, shallots and garlic! Crafts will include hand woven baskets, glass, candlesticks and ornaments. Bruno Girardeau, organiser of the market, said, "We are looking forward to coming back and will be bringing the authentic tastes and crafts of France to Norwich". Make a date in your diary now and don't miss the opportunity to experience a taste of France in the centre of Norwich. |
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Eton
Why go to Calais to buy French product? Why go to Calais to buy French product when you can find it in the High Street, Eton. That's what shoppers were saying when they visited the French market in Eton over the weekend of 22nd and 23rd September. The French stalls &endash; wine, cider, charcuterie, patisserie, confectionery, bread, cheese, onions, hot crêpes, traditional dolls, gifts &endash; attracted many new shoppers who had not been aware how vibrant and cosmopolitan that area has become. It opened their eyes to the diversity of speciality shops to suit every taste and pocket. The French traders, too, had a surprise. They were amazed by how many French and French-speaking people of a number of different nationalities frequent Eton. And such was the ambiance française created by the French stallholders that it even encouraged peopleto try out their French. Feedback from both shoppers and local traders was very enthusiastic. |
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Kingston upon Thames
Festive Fayre Brings Cheer Kingston residents who expressed an overwhelming desire for the French market to return to the town centre will be delighted to hear the gastronomic feast is set for a comeback before Christmas. Kingston Council have been astounded by the level of demand for the return of the French traders who first visited Kingston's ancient Market Place in October. The French Market is based on small traders selling directly to the public. The quality and variety of goods on sale creates an interesting and colourful shopping experience. Many consumers enjoy the experience of meeting and conversing with the French traders, who mostly come from Normandy. The event gives shoppers the opportunity to buy from an array of food including assorted bread, cheese, cooked meat, cassoulet (a meal consisting of beans, sausages and bacon), olives, garlic and onions, along with craft and other products. Giving visitors the ideal chance to stock up their larders in time for the festive season. Then French Market co-ordinator Bruno Girardeau said: "We try to visit a (British) town once or twice a year to keep it a novelty experience. "Most towns have been overwhelmed by the market and Kingston is no exception. Many of the regular and long-standing traders on the ancient market site welcomed the addition of their French counterparts earlier this year. They are looking forward to their return or what could be the beginning of a long and friendly relationship between the two sets of traders. Kingston Council's markets and street activities manager Gary Walsh said: "The first market back in October was a huge success, it proved beyond anything we expected. "We are hoping that the Christmas market will prove as big a success." "As a result we would then aim at it featuring in the town twice a year in the future." |
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Bognor Regis 28/03/02 Bognor Regis Observer A hearty encore for our new French connection Francophile shoppers will be able to say bonjour to a bargain in Bognor Regis again.The sell-out success of the town's first French market means a repeat visit by its Gallic traders is certain. The outcome left the organizers at Bognor Seafront Lights group delighted. Group Chairman Jason Passingham said, "To see so many visitors and local people literally pack solid the sea front in March; shows that the event is growing in importance and we are providing attractions that have a wide appeal.. ". The French market, supported by a good advertising campaign helped by the Bognor Regis Observer, clearly attracted people from outside Bognor into the town to spend money. " They are visitors who may not normally visit the town, certainly not in a chilly March" . The feedback to the group revealed that people thought it was a quality event which should be repeated. The traders have traveled from Normandy on Thursday, for a market at Dartford on Friday before coming onto Bognor Regis for 2 days. Their leader Bruno Girardeau, said they had expected a warm welcome in the town, but the number of visitors pouring through the market buying goods had exceeded their expectations. " Although at the moment we are booked up for the rest of the year, we look forward very much to visiting Bognor Regis again next year." Our host, Bognor Regis Seafront Lights, worked very hard to plubicise the market, and we hope that our visite brought extra business to the town, particularly the resident businesss, over the weekend". |
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Darlington
6/04/02 Darlington Northern Echo A flavour of France was on offer to shoppers in Darlington yesterday. French traders from the Gallic market made their first journey to the town center to offer tempting wares from across the channel. Culinary delights such as wines, cheeses, cooked meats and breads and a range of craftwork, were on offer. More than 35 stalls were set up in the town Market Square, creating a French ambience for visitors. The market, which runs until Monday, is the idea of Darlington Town Centre Initiative which saw it as a way to attracting more people to the town. Albion Small chairman of Darlington Chamber of trade, said: " it is great for the town, it brings more people into the town centre, everyone in business benefits". A spokeman for the Cornmill Shopping Centre management said: " the market has been well received, and we have had a lot of positive comments. " we were thrilled that the school took an interest, and were introduced to Bruno Girardeau, the co-operator from the French side of the operation. |
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Bristol
C'est fantastique ! We love zis market The city's first French & Continental Market got off to a flying start as hundreds converged on the stalls set up in the center. The 29 market traders yesterday offered a large variety of produce from bath oils to ceramic pots and tagines. But it was perhaps the French cuisine, which drew the crowds. Food stalls sold a vast array of cooked meat, cheeses, mustard, olives and for the sweeter tooth, hand-made chocolates, biscuits and honey were on sale. If browsing among all this food brought on hunger, there was a patisserie and fresh crepes stall with topping including such delights as chesnut cream or Grand Marnier with chocolate. The man behind the project was Bruno Girardeau, originally from france but now living in Surrey. He runs the market for 33 weeks a year around the UK. Stallholders return to northern France during the week, coming back every weekend to sell their merchandise. Reaction to the French & Continental Market from the public was very positive with shoppers. Monsieur Girardeau said: "The response is fantastic, one of the reasons I do it is because we feel so welcome". |
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Redhill
10/07/02 Life Newspaper Redhill Shoppers in Redhill were treated to produce from across the channel, when a French Market came to the high street. Over 20 stalls were set up with a wide range of tasty treats, originating from Normandy, including continental sausages, mature French cheeses, and a host of gallic goodies. Reigate and Banstead Borough Council worked closely with the Redhill Town Centre management Group (TCMG) to make arrangements for the market. They believe encouraging theme markets, such as farmers markets and French markets, to come to Redhill will help with the ongoing regeneration plans for the town center. A spokesman for the council said: " The French market was a real triumph. It brought lots of extra people into the town and the local traders liked it. Councillor Julian Ellacott, chairman of the TCMG, said of the French market: " We want to invigorate the town center, and this type of event does exactly that" |
