And I’m told by the locals – the area is home to a mix of council estates and pied-a terres owned by MPs and TV people from ITN – that the atmosphere here is quirky and friendly, with Greensmiths deli supermarket always packed out and a few small galleries popping up along the street which is home to international food stalls during the week.
And last weekend things began to look even cheerier with the launch of the Lower Marsh Saturday market, brightening up this corner of SE1 long overshadowed by its fashionable South Bank neighbours. Although there have been markets here since the 18th century, the vibe is not at all traditional with stalls such as Bad Boys Bakery, selling bread made by ex-offenders through an initiative started in Brixton prison and The Pressery, with its raw almond milk
Chateau Marmot specialises in using’unexpected locations’ and is active not just in London but at pop ups across the UK, and even further afield with a successful event last year in a tea house in Melbourne, Australia
Back on the Lower Marsh market things were buzzing with a throng of Saturday shoppers picking up cheeses, macaroons, cupcakes, fish and organic meats.