Brighton Farmers' Market

The Brighton Plantation is located in St. George, dates from the 17th century, and is run by Michael and Alison Pile. From early every Saturday morning the Piles host a "farmers market", where you can get good quality fruit and vegetables at very competitive prices. The open air market begins at 6.30am, and closes around 10am. Produce is from local farmers as well as from the plantation. While some would say that a trip to Cheapside Market in Bridgetown would give similar bargains, Brighton is more than just a market for fresh produce. There are stall holders who provide breakfast items (fish and bake, spring rolls, breads, croissants, fresh juices, etc), and the Piles have their answer to Starbucks, with "Pilebucks" fresh coffee! Arts, crafts, jams, and sauces are also available. You may also find some gourmet stalls selling British sausages and fine cheeses.

But Brighton Market is also a social gathering place. The main eating area has picnic tables, a small climbing set for small children, and a good hill for them to run down. In the shade of the flamboyant tree, there is a lot of meeting and greeting, and the children love playing with the flamboyant pods ("shak shaks"). The crowd at Brighton's clearly has a lot of long standing regulars. I met a lady today who said she has been going there every week since it opened some 6-7 years ago.

Brighton's visitors are a mixture of white and black Bajans (somewhat more whites), and non-Bajans (including many white expatriates--the Canadian High Commissioner is a regular--and blacks from other islands who are now resident in Barbados, plus a good number of visitors to the island). Everyone tends to be at their friendliest even from the earliest hour, and many regulars are very quick to introduce themselves and greet new visitors.

Many foreigners like the market because it's very similar to those that have sprung up in urban areas of North America, or which have been going in Britain and Europe for even longer. Bajans like it for all that it offers. I like the fish and bake prepared by the group from Living Waters. Everyone really enjoys the view across the countryside, and it's one of those place in Barbados that truly resembles England.