Hackney’s market stalls sell everything from fresh fruit, vegetables and street food to clothing, jewellery and homewares. There are more than 600 pitches in the 6 different markets.
All the markets have particular specialties. Each market has officers who give advice and support to new and existing traders. See fees and charges for more information on costs.
View trading opportunities in Hackney’s markets.
Who needs a market trading licence?
You need a licence if you want to sell goods and commodities in our markets or want to serve food or drink in those places. You can apply to trade at different markets.
You can have permanent or temporary market licences, although some of our markets only have temporary licences (Chatsworth Road, Well Street) and other street trading sites (miscellaneous sites).
Before you apply
Before you can apply for a permanent licence, you need to have had a temporary licence for 6 months.
You need to renew a permanent licence at the end of each financial year and a temporary licence every 6 months.
For more information see street trading licence (markets) terms and conditions.
We have a list of the commodities you can sell or serve.
These are divided into categories. If you have a market trading licence, you can sell up to 3 commodities from one category.
We’ll consider all requests for commodities. We prefer to have certain kind of commodities on certain markets. For example, the traders on Kingsland Road Market mainly sell second-hand goods and street food.
You need to choose one category and up to 3 commodities when you’re applying for either a temporary or permanent market trading licence.
If you wish to vary any details on your street trading licence please complete and return:
By post or in person: Markets & Street Trading Office, Unit 2ii, Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2LX
By email: markets.service@hackney.gov.uk
Your request will be considered at the next officer licensing panel (OLP) which takes place on the 8th of every month.
You’re allowed to submit one request per quarter.
Apply for / renew a temporary or permanent market trading licence
If you apply online for your market trading licence or renewal, you get a £10 discount on your application. You can only pay by debit or credit card.
Please ensure that you don’t close the window once you have made payment as there is one final step after the payment screen.
If you’re are applying for the first time, you can only apply for a temporary licence. Temporary licences last 6 months. After that, you can either renew your temporary licence or apply for a permanent licence.
If you used to have a permanent licence but have not traded for a period of time, and your licence has expired, you can re-apply for a temporary licence. Please note that Chatsworth Road, Well Street and other street trading sites (miscellaneous sites) only have temporary licences.
To get a permanent licence you need to have consistently traded with no disciplinary action within that period. We award a permanent licence based on your trading patterns, commodity and the availability of pitches.
Apply for a licence Renew your licence
Please make sure you have all the supporting documents before applying.
- proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- proof of home address (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- proof of national insurance number (copy of your national insurance document, tax statement, benefits agency document, pay slip, P45 or P60)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges list for the current fee/charge.
Food traders only
- a copy of gas certificate if cooking with LPG gas
- a valid food hygiene certificate (level 2 or above) in the name of the licensee (if trading in cooked food). Please note that if registering assistants – a copy must be submitted for each assistant
Limited or public companies
- a copy of the business certificate of incorporation
- a copy of your public liability insurance (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges list for the current fee/charge
- proof of home address if this has changed since your last application (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months. Please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges list for the current fee/charge
After you apply
Applications are reviewed and are processed within 10 working days. If you’re unsuccessful, we will explain why or what you need to do to help us process your application.
When making a temporary licence application you may be asked to attend an interview. If this is required we will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.
Renewal applications are reviewed to ensure all documents have been supplied and are processed within 7 working days.
Apply / renew by post
You can apply by post or email, but it is faster, easier and cheaper to apply online.
By post or in person: Markets and Street Trading Office, Unit 2ii, Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2LX
By email: markets.service@hackney.gov.uk
Printed forms are also available at the above address.
Please make sure you have all the documents before applying. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- the street trading licence application form fully completed, signed and dated
- proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- proof of home address (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- proof of national insurance number (copy of your national insurance document, tax statement, benefits agency document, pay slip, P45 or P60)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months. Please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges list for the current fee/charge. To make payments by phone please call 020 8356 5300
Food traders only
- a copy of gas certificate if cooking with LPG gas
- a valid food hygiene certificate (level 2 or above) in the name of the licensee (if trading in cooked food). Please note that if registering assistants – a copy must be submitted for each assistant
Limited or public companies
- a copy of the business certificate of incorporation
- the street trading licence application form fully completed, signed and dated
- a copy of your public liability insurance (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months. Please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges list for the current fee/charge
- the street trading licence renewal form fully completed, signed and dated
- proof of home address if this has changed since your last application (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million). Public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- one full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months. Please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs. Please refer to the fees and charges for the current fee/charge. To make payments by phone please call 020 8356 5300
Registering a manager or assistant
Market traders can employ a registered assistant, to cover a short period of time each day and for up to 4 weeks holiday a year. Both temporary and permanent traders may have up to 4 assistants, one of whom can be registered as a manager.
An administration fee of £20 is charged per assistant/manager.
Please return by post or email.
By post or in person: Markets and Street Trading Office, Unit 2ii, Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2LX
By email: markets.service@hackney.gov.uk
Please note: the licensee is expected to be in visible control of the stall for most of the working week (51% of the time). Where a licensee is not at their stall for this time without a reason that we consider reasonable, we can revoke a licence for non-attendance.
Registering vehicles at Hoxton Street and Ridley Road markets
For both Ridley Road and Hoxton Street markets, there’s a vehicle exemption list which allows traders to enter the market during permitted unloading times without receiving a parking penalty charge notice (PCN).
Each trader may have up to 2 vehicles registered at any one time.
First time applicants must add their Vehicle Registration Mark(s) VRM to the licence application form where prompted to ensure that their vehicles are added to the list.
You can do this by completing:
Please return by post or email.
By post or in person: Markets and Street Trading Office, Unit 2ii, Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2LX
By email: markets.service@hackney.gov.uk
Failure to provide us with your VRM in the correct way will mean that you aren’t added to the exemption list and will be susceptible to the issue of a penalty charge notice (PCN) when entering the market to unload.
We won’t be liable for any PCN issued under such circumstances.
Traders are responsible for their own parking arrangements and are eligible to apply for business parking permits.
Page updated on: 24 January 2020