Perfectly positioned in Heron’s square, a minute’s walk from Richmond High Street and the bustling riverside, Duck Pond Market is the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon, trying new foods and art. It is also an amazing platform for entrepreneurs to experiment and share their work. With Richmond arguably at its most scenic with lights lining the streets and Christmas cheer spreading around the town, I would definitely recommend a trip to the market soon - here is a taste of everything that awaits you!
Firstly, we talked to Liana Baghdasaryan, who runs Caketivate, and her cookies definitely fit the slogan, “Making the Edible Incredible” through her stunning baked goods, especially the unique edible Christmas decorations, which are delicious gingerbread biscuits you can hang up on the tree. The items also vary all year round, with elaborate edible plant pot cakes outside of Christmas, which look incredibly realistic and almost too good to eat! About the market, Liana said, “Everything is handmade here and we’ve got so many amazing creators and it's a chance to meet new people as opposed to selling online and it's a great market because it has got lots of visitors. It's really vibrant, and I just love it.” This speaks to what a great environment the market has, and how many talented artisans there are.
Also, we talked to the owner of Wrap Up in Style, who has been sourcing and designing beautiful scarves, coats and other clothing from Kashmir and other parts of the world for 15 years, since visiting the Indian subcontinent as a teenager. The scarves are completely unlike anything you would usually be able to find in your local high street, made out of soft fabrics and with intricate designs and embroidery in an array of colours, and there were even vibrant Uzbek Suzanis (tapestries from Central Asia) on display. Furthermore, everything is ethically sourced, with all the designs being laser printed by fairtrade families in India, particularly Jaipur. The jewellery on display was bought from a non-profit in Cambodia called Tabitha which provides work and support to people so that they can gain economic independence. The owner said, “I absolutely love [Duck Pond Market! I’ve found my tribe of people - all the stall holders are so lovely, we’ve all got the same vision, it’s fun, and I just love the ethos of Duck Pond.”
Lastly, we talked to the owners of PomiYa, who have an ethos of helping people “We want the best for ourselves, so I’m thinking my juice is about putting the best inside of you, for the better you.” by introducing and normalising different foods to the public, inspired by a trip to Israel where there were many vendors selling juices all around the place. The juice is unique as it consists of both pomegranate and orange juice, which is a perfect but rare balance of flavours, “Pomegranate has been underrated because it’s not grown in Europe, so for me, it’s about bringing awareness to others, so that they know it’s good to have the seed, the drink. It’s all about health, it’s all about long life as well.” Also, PomiYa makes a mouthwatering chilli sauce based on Punjabi spices but with an African twist, containing an eclectic blend of garlic, mango and much more. Of Duck Pond market, the owner said, “it’s a very good thing because people come together and also for the vendors, it's like a family. With Duck Pond, each branch, it's always united, all the staff and everyone is involved.”
Overall, Duck Pond Market is one of the best places to spend an afternoon, with its’ welcoming and stimulating atmosphere as you have the opportunity to explore all different cultures, clothes and art and be exposed to completely new ideas and foods, so it is the perfect opportunity to have fun and learn fascinating new things. There are many other stalls at Duck Pond with delicious food and drink like a Lebanese food stall (Atyab Lebanese Street Food), as well as multiple jewellery stalls…I highly recommend a visit!
