Tachbrook Street Market traders face potential pitch fee increases under Westminster Council proposals

Traders at Tachbrook Street Market in Pimlico are facing potential pitch fee increases under Westminster City Council’s proposed 2027-2030 Markets Strategy. Following a public consultation that closed on 30th September 2026, the proposed fee structure sets daily pitch charges between £27 and £41, depending on commodity category and trading day.

Louis Wollweber, the co-founder of Newdlez Pad Thai, said increasing financial pressures were already a concern for traders. “Costs are definitely rising. There is something going on in Westminster in particular,” he said.

For hot food vendors such as Wollweber, pitches would cost £36 from Monday to Thursday, £37 on Friday and £39 on Saturday under the proposed changes. Fresh produce fees would range from £32 to £37 daily, while non-food pitches would cost £27 to £32 per day.

Council records reflect widespread opposition across the street trading community regarding these changes. The consultation report found that 48.8% of survey respondents opposed the proposed fees, while 58.6% of affected licence holders noted that the increases risk making their business or pitch unviable.

However, not all traders were able to have their say. Despite being affected by the proposals, Wollweber, who has been trading at Tachbrook Street Market for 15 years, missed the consultation deadline due to daily workload demands. 

“They opened the opportunity to have our say, but in order to do that you have to really take the time, which we don’t have,” Weber said. “Before you even start the questionnaire, you have to read all the attachments and documents and policies. [Westminster Council] has to understand we have our daily work to do.” 

Westminster Council’s Licensing Committee will decide whether or not to adopt the proposed fees on 21st October, with formal implementation projected for January 2027.