St. Albans Blog

Sunday Farmers Market - Today (free sun!)

Retailer of the Year Awards

The annual Retailer of the Year awards run by the Hertfordshire Advertiser have been announced and if these celebratory balloons are any indication, i'd say A & C Meats was a winner. Being vegetarian, I've not been in myself but the sign out front always advertises a wide and interesting range of fresh, often local, meats and game. Friends reckon it's the best butcher around and rather than doing my taste test, I'm going to trust them on this one. By the way, there is a Continental Market in St. Albans starting today and running through Saturday.

The Village Arcade, St. Albans

Saturday 2:45 pm 5/24/08 St. Albans, England
Originally uploaded by robinhamman

Located just across the road from the Clock Tower you'll find the Village Arcade, a small, covered passage with a handful of niche shops.

From the front there's Village News, which I reckon sells more fags than mags, and Rocket, which used to be in a much larger premises of it's own in a tudor building immediately across from the Clock Tower, selling trendy clothing, cute gifts and cards.

Further down you'll find Just Alterations, the only alterations shop I'm aware of in central St. Albans (although some dry cleaners may also do it). There's also a barbers, PetraGem which sells gem stones and jewerly, and Ashwoods Art Supplies which, after the closure of the big art supply store on London Road last year, is about the only place in town to get paint and other art supplies.

Nic-Nacs, at the end of the parade of shops, sells chocolate and small gifts, and Abigail's Cafe which has some seating in a nice, quiet spot overlooking the walls of the Abbey Gardens and with views of the Abbey itself.

Continental Market Today and Tomorrow

  Continental Market, St. Albans, England 

The continental market has returned to St. Albans for another of it's three day visits. You'll find the usual garlic, lavender, fresh bread sticks and other continental market goods. Rather as you'd expect from a continental market.

On Saturday our friends from across the water will be joined by the usual St. Albans market. Hopefully the sleet, hail and torrential bursts of rain we had on Friday won't return to make it a washout.

Italian Market 18 - 20th October

  italian market st. albans 
  Originally uploaded by robinhamman

The popular Italian Market returns to St. Albans from today (Thursday 18 October), tomorrow and Saturday. You'll find Italian products including cheeses, wines and meats as well as a range of baked goods.

St. Albans Continental Market - This Weekend

The St. Albans Continental Market started today (Thursday) and runs through Friday and Saturday. As usual, you'll find all sorts of continental baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables as well as sweets such as baklava and Turkish delight.

The weather Friday is set to be variable, with clouds, rain and spells of sunshine. Saturday will be overcast but relatively warm with highs in the mid to upper 60's whilst Sunday is set to be warm and sunny with highs in the upper 60's.

It would be as nice a weekend as any to visit St. Albans or nearly Harpenden, which hosts it's own Farmer's Market this Sunday.

St. Albans Beer Festival: 26-29 September 2007

The St. Albans Beer Festival, organised by CAMRA, will take place at the Alban Arena in St. Albans from the 26th to the 29th of September. You can look forward to:

• Over 300 different British real ales from all over the UK - from Milds and Bitters through old ales, porters and stouts, to barley wines, speciality wheat beers, golden beers and real lagers, fruit beers and many others.
• New for this year, a 6th bar will be added and there will also be a special area for beer brewed in Hertfordshire.
• St Albans Beer Festival also sports one of the largest ranges of foreign beers in the country outside that of the Great British Beer Festival - including the Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, Australia and Sri Lanka to name but a few.
• A wide range of ciders and perries (made from pears) will also be available.
• This year, the Saturday entertainment will be provided by Nine Below Zero

Any clear thinking beer drinker will obviously want to find out more: http://www.stalbansbeerfestival.com

 

St. Albans Farmers Market: 12 August 2007

  st.albans farmers market 

 

The St. Albans Farmers market returns on Sunday 12 August 2007. Located in front of Town Hall, on St. Peter's Street, the farmers market attracts primarily local specialist traders selling vegetables, plants and produce grown on farms and small holdings. You'll also find stalls selling bread, baked goods, hand mad dips and sauces and more.

There is free parking in Council Car Parks although, if you have the option, it's best to visit St. Albans city centre by public transport as parking can often be difficult to find and the small roads of the city easily become congested. St. Albans is located just 22 minutes from Kings Cross Thamelink, around 20 minutes from Watford Junction on the Abbey Flyer line, and about 15 minutes from Luton.

St. Albans Farmers Market: Sunday 10 June 2007

This Sunday, 10 June 2007, sees the return of the popular St. Albans Farmers Market where you'll find local produce, baked goods, cheeses, seasonal fruit and vegetables, meat and game, etc.

St Albans Farmers' Market is held on the 2nd Sunday each month, from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

St. Albans Markets: French Market This Weekend (17-19 May 2007)

St. Albans will play host to a Continental Market from the 17th to 19th May 2007. Known locally as "the French market", visitors can expect to find baklava, French style sweets including Turkish delight, bread, olives, bunches of French garlic and more.

We've got more information on the various markets in St. Albans and their dates of operation here.