With New Covent Garden Market’s revamp ongoing, the opening of the interim flower market has been delayed until April to allow more time to test the building before it opens.
The temporary building, which will house flower traders until 2022 when they will move to a permanent site, had been due to open on 27 February – between the Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day peaks. Last week, however, this was postponed until 3 April.
This will give developers more time to run operational trials and make sure the market is up to health and safety requirements before traders move to their new home. It also means that if there are any bedding issues, these will not disrupt the Mother’s Day trading period.
The flower market is not the only part of the market to be renovated, with construction work either planned or underway on the fruit and veg market; an academy for chefs and florists called the Garden Heart; a food hub for elite fresh food suppliers; and a public-facing food quarter.
Looking forward to the opening of the interim flower site, the market authority’s communications manager Alastair Owen said: “We can’t wait for our customers to see our new home. It’s a bright, fresh and modern space that will make coming to the flower market an even better experience.
“The current market has served us very well for 40 years, but it’s now time to give our customers a more inspiring place to buy beautiful flowers, plants, foliage and sundries.”
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