Introducing Bethnal Queens! Meet the traders from our New Saturday Market, starting 1st November!
Thanks to Pellicci Café’s amazing community pulling together via our Crowdfunder, we’re thrilled to announce that Bethnal Green’s new Saturday Market will start on Saturday, 1st November, then every week until Christmas with 6 stalls outside the cafe bringing East End community spirit back to the street.
Together, the community raised £9,641 of the £12,000 target which has got us going with staff time to lead the project. We still need support to reach our goal to help cover x7 £259.2 weekly pitch and license fees, plus the costs for manpower to put up and pack down the gazebos.
If you can help, please chip in to the crowdfunder here. Any amount is super helpful. THANK YOU!
BIG shout out to brilliant members Declan and Connor from 1st City Van Hire for sponsoring a van to transport the gazebos to and from Bethnal Green Road and storing them for us! Huge thank you to everyone who has supported and chipped in money or time, especially our own Len Maloney and our brilliant volunteer, Demitri Kerlew. More gratitude to Guild members Harry Bennet for the poster design, Ed Taylor for printing and Sarah Ainslie for the gorgeous photographs.
The trader brief from Pellicci’s Oxford House and Newmans Stationery, our three long-term members on Bethnal Green Road, was clear — they wanted stalls that represent arts, craft, and fashion.
We’re extremely proud to boast that we have a very special group of founding traders: an all-female, intergenerational group of talented locals selling art, luxury candles, women’s fashion, ceramics, and more!
Over the next few days, we’ll be introducing them all. First up is the wonderful mother-and-daughter team Kim Whitehead and Jane Sheehan, otherwise known as the Bethnal Queens! Read their beautiful story first-hand in Kim’s own words.
“We just believe that “Bethnal” is obviously to do with Bethnal Green — and “Queen” well, there are a lot of women who have made it, and they are Queens. A lot of women who’ve been single mums, brought up their children on their own, run businesses, and they don’t really get enough credit for it.
When Jane mentioned going to the market to me, I said yes straight away! I’ve lived on my own for 12 years after a difficult relationship. I’m quite hands-on — I can make clothes — but I’ve lacked confidence.
Jane’s told me for ages, “Mum, make clothes, you could sell them!” But I’ve always thought, “What if they’re not good enough?”
This market is perfect — women’s wear for women my age, a bit quirky. You don’t see that much now. Everything’s for younger women.
We’ve been sourcing clothes from different wholesalers — mixing and matching — because online shopping can be hard. You don’t know if it’ll fit. So we’re setting up a little changing area behind a curtain, so women can try things on.
Because I’m an older woman, I think others my age will feel comfortable coming to the stall. I’ve been to shops where you get funny looks for trying on something “too young.” But I’m not talking about mini skirts — just stylish things that make you feel good.
Bethnal Green Market hasn’t had that for years, and I’m so excited. Living alone can be isolating — so this is giving me something to get up for. I’ll see old friends, meet new ones, give other women a bit of inspiration.
Being from Bethnal Green, and doing women’s wear — especially for my kind of age — I’m 62 now — it’s about highlighting that you can look and feel like a Queen when you put something on that’s comfortable.
I like to be a little bit quirky, and I think in Bethnal Green Market in particular, there’s nothing like this anymore. There used to be, but there’s not now. So yeah — Bethnal Queens — I believe everyone is a Queen, no matter where you come from. But it’s because of the brilliant market backing that we thought the name Bethnal Queens works. If we just put “Bethnal Green Women’s Traders” or whatever, it wouldn’t stand out — but “Bethnal Queens” does.
I was born and raised in Bonner Street, on the edge of Bethnal Green. There used to be a pub on the corner called The City of Paris — now it’s an Indian restaurant.
I’ve got a very big family. A lot of the older ones, my aunts and uncles, have passed away, but growing up in the East End was the best. We could play out on the Cranbrook Estate — I’ve still got all my friends and connections there.
We had a caravan on the Isle of Sheppey and went there every weekend and all the school holidays. Now two of my daughters have caravans there — Jane takes her children down. It’s lovely.
It’s a shame kids can’t play out like they used to. My eldest grandson is 18 and a half — I still worry about him going out — but he’s just started uni, so I’m proud of him.
I’ve been a single mum most of my life. Unfortunately, I got divorced. I’ve got three daughters — Emily is 42, Jane is 41, and my youngest, Sophie, is 30.
It wasn’t always easy, but I had my family. My mum and dad were like an extra mum and dad to my girls. We’re a very close-knit family — we always look out for each other.
Whenever there’s anyone’s birthday — one of my brothers or nieces or nephews — it’s either me or one of my three daughters that makes it special. We hold a party — not always a big one, but one where all the children and grandchildren come.
We had one for Jane’s birthday — it was amazing! We had a magician for the children and adults, then a DJ, and everyone danced. The kids loved it.
My oldest brother just found out last week that he’s cancer-free — he had prostate cancer — and we’re all so proud. I took him to every hospital and doctor’s appointment for four months.
Being a single mum wasn’t easy — but you know what? I’ve got such a wonderful bond with my daughters. They’re like earth angels — the kindest, most giving, loving ladies — and I’m so proud of them.
My mum was a sewing machinist, and later worked as a school dinner lady. My dad was a carpenter — a shuttering carpenter — and he was also in the Army. He worked on the bridge on Roman Road that goes across the canal into Bow — he helped build that. He worked on lots of buildings in the City as a foreman, too.
I had the most amazing childhood. I used to roller-skate everywhere, ride my bike. There was always community stuff going on — fun days on the estate — it was just brilliant.
Everyone’s front door was always open. My mum would always be making sandwiches for all the kids; everyone was welcome. That’s how I raised my girls, too.
When my daughters were growing up, I’d have all their friends stay at mine — sometimes up to ten at once — just so I knew where my girls were!
And now with my grandchildren, it’s the same. If any kids come in for lunch or dinner, I feed them all. I wouldn’t like any child to feel left out, especially with the cost of living now. I always make sure I’ve got plenty for everyone.
My mum used to work in a factory as a sewing machinist with her sisters and friends. They used to go into Pellicci’s for lunch.
That was about 55 years ago. We still go there — me and my girls — we love them. They’ve kept it the same, kept their humour. A lot of people have lost their sense of humour these days, but not them! They understand us, and we understand them.
The Cranbrook Estate was legendary! The people were so neighbourly.
We even had a fun day once where the local police from Bethnal Green Station had a tug of war with the men from the estate! That estate was the best.
Years ago, they had the Right to Buy — big discounts — 80% sometimes. So people bought their council flats and moved out to Essex and beyond.
It’s damaged the East End, I think. When I was growing up, there were a lot of people who were very racist. Sadly. But not my family. Our house was open to everyone.
Everyone was welcome. Unless someone was known for trouble, my mum’s door was open, the back gate open — everyone came in.
Some of those who moved out were the racist ones. We’ve never been like that. We’re all the same. I’ve even got mixed-race granddaughters now.
It’s such a shame it’s not like that now. People don’t know their neighbours anymore.
A women’s clothes stall is needed. Once word gets out — me and Jane will make sure of that — the market will start thriving again.
A lot of people go elsewhere, or buy online, but women my age don’t really like online shopping. You can’t tell if it’ll fit.
At our stall, they can try things on, chat, and even make suggestions. If they say, “Can you get something that covers this or that?” — we’ll do it.
There is something else — I’m proud of myself. I’m ten years sober.
I don’t announce it as much anymore, but I used to — to help others my age get sober too.
I also volunteer for Tower Hamlets Drug and Alcohol Services — it’s called Reset and CGL. I love it. It’s how my life is meant to be now.
My mum and dad passed away, and me and my girls were devastated. I’m not over it — I think about them every minute of every day. But they’re looking down, proud of us.
All my daughters and six grandchildren are blessings, but this is something for me. They’ve got their own lives — I’m not one of those mums that demands visits. We FaceTime every day, and see each other a few times a week. But this market — this is something I can put my heart into.
This stall is the best thing — I cannot wait. I’m going to make so many new friends, and see old ones too!”
