Barking Town Shopping Tips by MikeStarr5

Barking Town Market - Click to Enlarge Photo: Bargains Galore in the Market

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday since 2001, there has been a lively open-air market in Barking Town Centre. During the run up to Christmas, the market takes place even more frequently. It is run by Charfleet Markets and open from 9.00am to 5.00pm with traders setting up their stalls as early as 6.00am.

This traditional East London general market caters well for the multicultural society that Barking Town has become. You can buy a wide variety of goods, including clothing, household products, food and hardware.

While other markets in the area have struggled, this one has grown to full capacity. There are at least 140 stallholders, some of whom have been there since the market started. However, daily traders are also encouraged, thus ensuring that every time the market is held, there is always something new and interesting for bargain hunters to see.

In addition to this general market, Barking Town hosts occasional French, Italian and German markets with tasty food and some unusual, hard to get hold of, products from the country concerned.

If you fancy running a stall in the market, you can find details on the website mentioned.

What to buy: Good for clothing, replica Rolex watches, shoes, CD's, DVD's etc

What to pay: Bargains galore to be had

Address: East Street, Barking Town Centre IG11 8ER

Directions: From Barking Station you turn to your right and walk down the hill to reach the market. It is less than a 5 minute walk

Phone: 01268 745550

Theme: Discount Store

Website: http://www.charfleets.com/barking-market.html

Jack Bunneys: High Fashion Mensware and Formal Hire

From the moment you ring the doorbell and are welcomed into their shop to the point that you leave, you are treated with warmth, professionalism and respect.

Jack Bunney's bespoke tailors, mensware and formal dress hire is a family run firm has been in Barking Town since 1958. They are now on the 3rd generation and both the son and grandson of the founder still work in the same shop.

They stock a huge range of very fashionable menswear and accessories, both to buy and to hire. All 3 members of staff really know their stuff.

Their main talent as far as I am concerned though is knowing what would look great on a particular person at a particular event - taking into consideration their budget, the occasion, the customer's preferences and personal taste.

What to buy: Old fashioned bespoke tailors for made to measure suits.

Sale of off-the-peg high fashion mensware and accessories.

Hire of dinner suits, tuxedos, etc

Especially good for very well made quality ex-hire items.

Occasional sales with top of the range items at give-away prices.

What to pay: You would expect to pay a reasonable price for a high fashion item but should always bare in mind that it will last far longer than a similar cheap item sold at a discount store.

They often sweeten the final bill though by saying something like - "We'll knock a fiver off as it's you, sir!" or they don't charge you at all for an accessory with an 8.99 price tag.

Address: 50 Longbridge Rd Barking IG11 8RT

Directions: Come out of Barking Station and turn to your left. At the roundabout with "the Catch" on it (modern sculpture) - see separate tip, cross the road at the traffic lights & just on the other side you will find Jack Bunney's shop.

Phone: 020 594 5967

Theme: Men's Clothes

Website: http://www.jackbunneys.co.uk

10th Planet: A Mecca For Science Fiction Fans

You can find 10th Planet on the first floor of Barking Town's Vicarage Field Shopping Centre. The Center offers good access for the disabled, a cafe, crèche and other facilities plus reasonably priced parking for hundeds of cars on the room.

The 10th Planet store is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and closed all day Sunday. They offer science fiction fans a chance to shop in a bright well laid out shop with plenty of room.

The staff are all SF fans too, hence are very knowledgeable about the products they stock.

You can also buy on line through their website and they offer avid collectors a subscription service whereby you are emailed when a new product in a range, in which you have expressed an interest, arrives in stock.

Watch the website for details of regular events where the stars of top SF TV shows and films come in to the store to chat with fans and sign autographs etc.

Have Fun !

What to buy: They offer a wide range of merchandise including Books, Clothing and Videos from shows such as Doctor Who, WWE, Movie Maniacs, Horror, Marvel, Film and Music Figures.

What to pay: Very reasonable prices considering how collectable most of their stock is

Address: 10th Planet Unit 37a Vicarage Fields IG11 8DQ

Directions: Come out of Barking Station and cross the road and you will find the Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre. The shop in on the 1st floor.

Phone: 020 8591 5357 / 5403

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.tenthplanet.co.uk