While many of us are busy with chocolates and festive tipples, one of London's oldest and most carnivorous Christmas traditions is preparing for its annual spectacle. The legendary Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market offers a unique chance for savvy shoppers to secure their festive centrepiece for a song.
A Century-Old Tradition of Festive Bargains
For generations, butchers at the historic Smithfield Market have used Christmas Eve as an opportunity to clear their remaining stock, offering premium cuts at rock-bottom prices through a lively, cash-only auction. This celebrated event turns the UK's largest wholesale meat market into a bustling arena where around 1,500 bidders typically gather, waving banknotes in the air to bid on everything from massive turkeys and racks of ribs to whole suckling pigs.
The atmosphere is famously jovial and inclusive. Traders often keep a watchful eye on the crowd to ensure that newcomers or unsuccessful bidders get a chance to walk away with something, making it a genuine community event. Last year, one lucky participant, a correspondent for MyLondon, famously secured a 7kg turkey for just £20, demonstrating the incredible value on offer.
When, Where, and How to Take Part
The action takes place on Wednesday, 24 December. The gates to the market open at approximately 9:30am, with the auction itself usually lasting for about an hour. It is held under the canopies of the market's Grand Avenue, just a short walk from Farringdon Station.
If you plan to join the fray, there is one golden rule: you must bring cash. The auction operates on a strictly cash-only basis. The best method for bidding is to wave your £10 or £20 notes clearly in the air when you spot a cut of meat you desire. Forget debit cards or contactless payments; this is a tradition that thrives on ready money.
The Future of a London Institution
This festive ritual occurs against a backdrop of change for Smithfield Market. Owned by the City of London Corporation, the market's long-term future involves a planned relocation. Earlier this month, new proposals were announced to move Smithfield, along with Billingsgate Market, to a new, purpose-built site at Albert Island, east of London City Airport.
This forms part of a £750 million plan with the potential to create 2,200 jobs. While most traders have agreed to the move, the historic markets will continue to operate in their current locations until at least 2028. This means the beloved Christmas Eve auction has a few more years yet in its iconic central London home, allowing Londoners to partake in this meaty piece of living history.
