From its humble origins as a small but lively social gathering on Arundel Street, Peddler Market has grown into nothing short of a Sheffield institution – an incredible street food event that takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of every month at its warehouse home in Kelham Island. Welcoming thousands of visitors for each instalment, it now mixes some of the UK’s best eats with fantastic live music, DJs and independent market traders.
Ahead of Peddler Market’s epic 10th year event, we caught up with founders Ben Smith and Jordan Roberts about the journey so far, some big birthday plans and what’s in store for the future.
What was the inspiration behind Peddler Market?
JR: Well, we’d been trading at street food events in London as The Hop Box for years, and I really wanted to throw a party in a car park and improve Sheffield’s food scene. I spent a lot of time in Liverpool and Manchester, where the scene was massive, and after moving to Sheffield, I noticed some room for growth.
BS: It was clear that street food was emerging as a genuine alternative to going to a restaurant, with the added benefit of seeing the food being cooked and engaging directly with the chefs. But it was important not to sacrifice quality. After trading at events in London, we knew the key ingredients for a successful event and felt well-placed to make it happen in Sheffield. We knew we wanted to make Peddler more than a street food event, so we try to deliver so much more, with great local music and DJs, a gritty industrial backdrop, top-of-the-range craft drinks and a platform for indie businesses.
What were the early days of Peddler Market like?
BS: The early days of Peddler Market were very much a case of learning by doing. We were just foodies who liked a good party; we weren’t event professionals. We even forgot to order bins for the very first events! We started with a road closure on Arundel Street, but we outgrew the location quickly. The early Peddlers always had great traders and beer, and it had a wonderfully friendly, organic vibe.
Why did you decide to make 92 Burton Road your permanent home?
JR: We soon had to close more of the road and eventually hire a warehouse to cope with the number of people – and get out of the rain! In 2015, we decided to roll the dice on Kelham Island, which at the time was mainly traditional pubs and Yellow Arch Studios and not much more.
BS: The Peddler Warehouse gave us the shelter we needed, alongside outdoor space to let us become a year-round event. Our new home gave us room to grow. We could now hold more than 8,000 people per weekend and we could evolve Peddler Market to suit bigger and more exciting traders, crowds and artists. We now host festivals, like Get Together, plus regular weddings, corporate parties and events, exhibitions, like Pete McKee’s a couple of years ago, and OF COURSE, the legendary Exposed Awards.
What’s been the best thing about being at the Warehouse?
BS: The Warehouse was an undiscovered, forgotten relic of Neepsend’s industrial heritage, and our street food-loving patrons absolutely buzzed off the backdrop. The Warehouse feels raw and imposing but it’s also comforting. After almost a decade in the Warehouse, it now combines industrial vibrancy with a modern cultural venue. There’s nothing better than soaking up the summer sun in the cobbled courtyard, listening to live music or bunkering down inside when it’s cosy in winter.
JR: Who doesn’t love a warehouse? Industrial chic repurposed with heart and soul! And it’s even waterproof… ish.
“After almost a decade in the Warehouse, it now combines industrial vibrancy with a modern cultural venue.”
Tell us about your favourite traders that have been at Peddler Market.
JR: That’s like choosing your favourite child, and they might be reading this!
BS: There is a humility to Peddler, which perhaps people who are genuinely humble wouldn’t admit! We get our kicks from watching our vendors trade successfully. If the traders are happy, so are we! This isn’t always the ‘norm’ at some events, but street food is at the heart of Peddler Market. We love shouting about old and new food traders, but we want to give a special shoutout to our neighbours in the courtyard. Roku, B’Reyt Dough and Depot Bakery traded at Peddler in the early days and now have permanent residency next door.
We’ve heard you have a big birthday bash coming up…
BS: It’s amazing that we’ve reached 10 years! We’re immensely proud to have lasted this long. The food and drink world can be fickle, but I think we’ve got here by being agile and responding to what the people want: fresh, delicious street food and amazing musical talent.
JR: Peddler Market Nº 87 is going to be one of our biggest and best Peddlers to date. The street food is going to be off the charts, with a lineup of proper Peddler legends returning for the celebrations. The music lineup is going to knock your socks off too. Friday night is all live music with Montuno headlining, and then on Saturday we have a very special guest, DJ Coco Maria. Of course, there’ll be afterparties in the one and only Factory Floor, too. In the courtyard, we’re going to recreate one of our favourite winter Peddlers from way back when, with lasers, smoke machines and bubbles. Unfortunately, Matthew Kelly wasn’t available, but we did try!
BS: We’re over the moon to invite some Peddler royalty to our 10th birthday who have gone on to bigger and better things since they were last with us. One of the first winners of the British Street Food Awards, Baked In Brick, is bringing the charcoal grill out of retirement for our birthday. And Sheffield favourites, Percy and Lilly’s, will be at Peddler for the first time in six years – we’ve tried to lure them back in before, but they are frankly too popular and successful in their own right! It’s not just the amazing food and music though, we’re also hosting a range of activities over the weekend, including a Tequila Masterclass, where you can learn how to make a marvellous margarita, Life Drawing with NamlessNat and a Coffee Cocktail Masterclass and Tasting with Ozone Coffee.
Sounds amazing! So, what does the future hold for Peddler Market?
BS: We’re focussing on making Peddler Market Sheffield bigger and better than ever. We enjoyed taking Peddler to other towns and cities, with our Chesterfield pop-up and more regular events in Wakefield and Leeds, and we want to do this more in the future. But our goal has always been to make continuous incremental improvements in Sheffield, making sure everyone leaves Peddler Market with the ‘I’m glad I went out’ feeling. We really just want to provide even more of what Peddler-goers love – the UK’s best street food, great tap takeovers and banging tunes in the heart of Neepsend!
Peddler Market celebrates its 10th birthday on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October at 92 Burton Road, Neepsend, S3 8BX and you’re all invited! To find out more about the food traders, music lineup, activities and market stalls at Peddler’s birthday, head to www.peddler.market.
@peddlermkt