Columbia Road Flower Market, which usually takes place every Sunday morning, is closed until further notice.
It came in for a lot of criticism online this weekend, as a photo of lots of people visiting the market — which due to its set-up, is in a confined space — went viral.
🛑 STOP THIS NOW 🛑
— Dino Sofos (@dinosofos) March 22, 2020
Columbia Road flower market, East London.
Photo taken just now by my colleague @JJ_Bryant (who was not there as a punter). pic.twitter.com/ffplOIgewX
Columbia Road is not the only market being shut by Tower Hamlets. Also closing are Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane, Roman Road, Sclater Street and Victoria Park — another market where both punters and stallholders came in for criticism online.
It is worth noting that most of these stallholders are self-employed, which comes with its own worries about shutting down their businesses for an indefinite period.
Keep up to date on all the latest London coronavirus news here.
