Popular flea market in Oxford starts up for summer season

The market in Magdalen Road has been running since 2010 and takes place on the first Saturday of the month, from 9am to 3pm.

Flo Fowler, the landlady of The Magdalen Arms and creator of the much loved market launched the market because dealing antiques was a family tradition.

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She said: "We first started in 2010. My father is an antique dealer, so it’s in my blood.

"When I moved here from West London. We used to have a stall at Portobello Road every Sunday. We missed it a lot. So I thought, I need to create my own Portobello Road! So we did!"

She added: "Our little OX4 community is now fondly known as Magdalen Village.

"I’m super proud of this wonderful pub of ours. And all the beautiful people that make it what it is. Thank you OX4 for making the pub, flea market and Magdalen Village the place to be. Only a strong community can make this happen."

Stallholders include Laura Burt, Louisa Watkins and Sarah Horner.

Ms Burt said: "It was a fantastic buzz on Saturday and I love setting up shop for a day a month.

"The flea community makes it always fun rain or shine and happy customers browse and buy . It’s often random and always great to find new homes for the miscellaneous items. The Maggie is a magnet". 

Another stallholder is local artist Emma Davies.She said: "The atmosphere at the flea market is always great. This is a great way for me to get my artwork out of the studio and for sale at an affordable price. We're all a big happy market family thanks to Flo."

The flea market features antique bric-a-brac, arts and crafts, flowers, clothing, and The Magdalen Arms serves a range of pastries, coffees, and bacon baps.

The market will now continue into the summer until the end of the year - usually the first Saturday of the month - finishing with their traditional Frost Flea Market for Christmas.

The Magdalen Arms is a renowned gastropub and has a four out of five rating on reviews site Tripadvisor.

One reviewer who dined there this month wrote: "I Went to the Magdalen last weekend and it was a great experience .

"The wait staff were attentive,  professional and efficient, happy to spend time with us as we decided on what to choose from the quite diverse menu.
"So many places in Oxfordshire seem understaffed these days you wait ages just to get a drink I had almost given up on finding somewhere decent."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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