On the 23rd of December 2023, a meat trader was observed gathering meat cuts in preparation for the annual Christmas auction at Smithfield Market in London, England. This event, hosted at the historic wholesale meat market in the City of London, draws in hundreds of eager individuals seeking discounted prices on meat and poultry in anticipation of the festive season. It is indeed an opportune moment for potential buyers to avail themselves of meat at reduced prices.

Smithfield Market, which stands as one of the oldest food wholesale markets in the heart of the capital, is slated to be relocated outside of London in the years to come. The meat auction preceding Christmas has secured a special place on the agenda for London residents and marks its first reopening since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In anticipation of the auction, a worker was witnessed holding a piece of meat amid a crowded enclosure of visitors.

A visitor at the event shared, “We are here solely for the purpose of procuring meat for the Christmas festivities. This is a delightful occasion, offering an opportunity to meet friends and engage in light-hearted conversations. I am particularly elated at the prospect of acquiring turkey and various other types of meat.” -Reuters/Toby Melville