Shock Closure of Kerb Gherkin
Posted on: August 12, 2013
Like so many others who work in the city, I have a pretty routine job that really only expresses one of my passions. But you may have noticed that my other passions are food and writing. It is only as a result of writing for this blog that I have come across the incredible events that have shaped one of the best summers’ we have had in many decades.
There have been many food festivals to remember, but the most impressive display of street food mania has got to be Kerb, who continue to bring international cuisine to our doorstep on a regular basis. Kerb flies the flag for the small businessperson, giving them a forum to show off their wares in as many locations as they have the energy to stand.
I have heard stories of people giving up their day jobs to follow their dreams of serving their street foodie ideas to the masses. We all know how that goes if you’re a sole trader in the ocean that is London; the big sharks swallow you whole, leaving you with a load of debts and no customers. Hooking up with Kerb and their rapidly expanding following, offers an umbrella to all the traders who become a part of something much bigger with a guaranteed dividend.
It is clear that Kerb has been incredibly successful in promoting small businesses and they have aided in creating a social and street food movement, which has this city’s food lovers hankering for more.
Then why has the City of London closed their Thursday and Friday market underneath The Gherkin?
Kerb quote the use of the terms “unsightly and chaotic” as reason for closure. Well, I have visited the market quite frequently and I noticed that the queues were incredibly long due to the popularity of Kerb’s stalls. But I also noticed that they were very orderly queues and didn’t see anything chaotic about it, in fact they brought a dash of colour and warmth to the usually drab surroundings.
It just goes to show that the real City of London is crying out for fresh new ideas, and a departure from the allegedly sightly and non-chaotic, prepackaged, flavourless chain you see on every corner.
It is clear that Kerb have a great deal of success ahead of them and I sincerely hope that they will be given a forum to spread their events all over the city (more in the South please, Kerb Peckham was a raging success!).
They clearly have the support of London’s food lovers but they need the support of the government too. Stop putting road blocks in the way of progress and if there is a valid reason, offer them another spot instead. Because we are going to keep on going to Kerb events whether you deem them unsightly or not and if we can’t, we’ll just have them pitch up in our back gardens.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Sign the petition to keep Kerb Gherkin open here:
Excited About Lunch 
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