Food sites

Portobello Road

Food sites in Portobello Road market are much sought after. Most of the sites designated for food in the markets are currently occupied by permanent traders. Although most are licensed for six day trading, they may not trade on certain weekdays, giving a misleading impression of vacancies.

You cannot trade in food as a casual trader. The only way to get a food site is apply to have your name added to the waiting list. When a food site becomes vacant it is first offered to existing traders who wish to transfer. After this process, any remaining food sites are offered to potential traders on the waiting list.

The waiting list for Portobello Road is currently closed due to the high demand and lack of vacancies.

Golborne Road

We currently have an extensive waiting list for sites on Golborne Road and will not consider traders wishing to sell goods that are already widely available from the stalls or shops on Golborne Road. If you would like to sell something that is not already available please email street.trading@rbkc.gov.uk to apply to the waiting list.

Application Process

For both markets, please send a written application to:

The Street Trading Section
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Council Offices
37 Pembroke Road
London W8 6PW

or email us at: street.trading@rbkc.gov.uk

Include as much information as possible about what you want to sell and how it can be sold. If you possess the following food hygiene and safety qualification, please send a photocopy to the Street Trading Section:

  • a nationally recognised Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene
  • Level 2 Award in Food Safety
  • evidence that you have undertaken an equivalent or higher level of food hygiene training

Please note: No street trading licence can be issued without these minimum qualifications, or their equivalents.

The Council's Directorate of Environmental Health is one of many registered food safety training centres.


For further information regarding food hygiene and safety including courses run by the Council see the Food Hygiene Safety and Standards webpages.

  • no further catering vehicles or trailers of any description are required in either market
  • no food licences can be issued for any other street in the Borough 
  • it is illegal to trade or display goods for sale on any part of the Public Highway without a Street Trading Licence 
  • please do not write to us requesting permission to trade or grant a licence on private property