Seun O

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seuno.co.uk

The Return: Smithfield Meat Auction

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Butchers prepare for auction as...far as Argentina and Australia.

1 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Butchers prepare for auction as annual Smithfield Market Christmas Meat Auction returns for the first time since 2019 (due to the Covid 19 pandemic) on December 23,2023. For around 900 years, the site in the City of London financial district has been a hub for meat and livestock trading, at one point attracting sellers from all over England and produce from as far as Argentina and Australia.

Bidders hold cash in the air as...d Avenue in the Central Market.

2 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Bidders hold cash in the air as they try to catch the meat trader’s attention. The traditional Christmas Eve meat auction is hosted this year by G Lawrence & Co on Grand Avenue in the Central Market.

Butchers prepare meat parcels f... the festive chaos.

3 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Butchers prepare meat parcels for auction. The meat is sold at bargain prices, with sellers sometimes offering meat at the toss of a coin, adding to the festive chaos.

Meat parcels being prepared for auction.

4 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Meat parcels being prepared for auction.

An animated young butcher jokes...h a slab of meat over his head.

5 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

An animated young butcher jokes with the crowd with a slab of meat over his head.

Meat trader shows off a box of festive meat to the crowd.

6 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Meat trader shows off a box of festive meat to the crowd.

Meat cuts are wheeled out to Gr... trolleys, set to be auctioned.

7 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Meat cuts are wheeled out to Grand Avenue in the Central Market in trolleys, set to be auctioned.

A butcher hands a cut of meat t... feel of the event.

8 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher hands a cut of meat to a buyer in the crowd. The auction is a cash only affair, adding to the traditional feel of the event.

Greg Lawrence directs a young b...ed as the competition heats up.

9 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Greg Lawrence directs a young butcher carrying a box of meat set to be auctioned as the competition heats up.

Bidders hold cash in the air as...e seller’s attention.

10 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Bidders hold cash in the air as they try to catch the seller’s attention.

A butcher reaches to collect ca...ontinue seamlessly.

11 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher reaches to collect cash from a customer in the crowd. The City of London Corporation plans to relocate the market to a new site within the M25, with 70% of traders agreeing to move together to create a "New Smithfield," and the remaining 30% intending to transfer their businesses to others, ensuring that 100% of trade will continue seamlessly.

A butcher tosses a cut of meat ...g-standing Christmas tradition.

12 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher tosses a cut of meat in the crowd to the highest bidder in a public auction at London's historic Smithfield Market, a long-standing Christmas tradition.

Smithfield Market Tenants Chair...itional Christmas meat auction.

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Smithfield Market Tenants Chairman Greg Lawrence collects money from customers at London's traditional Christmas meat auction.

For a small fee, butchers prepa...ecember 23, 2023 for customers.

14 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

For a small fee, butchers prepare meat bought during the Smithfield Market Christmas Auction on December 23, 2023 for customers.

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

15 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

A butcher prepares meat bought ...g the meat into smaller pieces.

16 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer. Cutting the meat into smaller pieces.

A butcher prepares meat bought ...g the meat into smaller pieces.

17 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer. Cutting the meat into smaller pieces.

A butcher prepares meat already bought at auction for a customer.

18 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher prepares meat already bought at auction for a customer.

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

19 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

Workers clean up after the trad..., London, on December 23, 2023.

20 of 20 © 2025 Seun O

Workers clean up after the traditional Christmas Eve Meat Auction at Smithfield Market, London, on December 23, 2023.

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Thumbnail of Butchers prepare for auction as _ far as Argentina and Australia.

Thumbnail of Bidders hold cash in the air as _nd Avenue in the Central Market.

Thumbnail of Butchers prepare meat parcels fo_o the festive chaos.

Thumbnail of Meat parcels being prepared for auction.

Thumbnail of An animated young butcher jokes _th a slab of meat over his head.

Thumbnail of Meat trader shows off a box of festive meat to the crowd.

Thumbnail of Meat cuts are wheeled out to Gra_n trolleys, set to be auctioned.

Thumbnail of A butcher hands a cut of meat to_l feel of the event.

Thumbnail of Greg Lawrence directs a young bu_ned as the competition heats up.

Thumbnail of Bidders hold cash in the air as _he seller’s attention.

Thumbnail of A butcher reaches to collect cas_continue seamlessly.

Thumbnail of A butcher tosses a cut of meat i_ng-standing Christmas tradition.

Thumbnail of Smithfield Market Tenants Chairm_ditional Christmas meat auction.

Thumbnail of For a small fee, butchers prepar_December 23, 2023 for customers.

Thumbnail of A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

Thumbnail of A butcher prepares meat bought a_ng the meat into smaller pieces.

Thumbnail of A butcher prepares meat bought a_ng the meat into smaller pieces.

Thumbnail of A butcher prepares meat already bought at auction for a customer.

Thumbnail of A butcher prepares meat bought at auction for a customer.

Thumbnail of Workers clean up after the tradi_t, London, on December 23, 2023.

Public Project

The Return: Smithfield Meat Auction

Copyright Seun O 2025

Updated Mar 2025

Location London, United Kingdom

Topics Culture, Culture stories, Documentary, Food, History, Iconic places, Personal Projects, Photography, Photojournalism

The Smithfield Market Christmas Eve Meat Auction is a cherished London tradition, offering residents and visitors the chance to purchase quality meats at discounted prices just before Christmas. After a 4 years hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic, the auction made a triumphant return in 2023. The cash only event was a lively spectacle where attendees enthusiastically bid and butchers toss meat cuts into the crowd creating a festive atmosphere.
The market, which has stood since 1855, has been at the heart of London's meat trade for over a century. Plans are in motion for the market to move to a new site, as part of a broader development project by The City of London. While the move is expected to preserve the market’s essential function, the shift to a new location will undoubtedly change the dynamics of events like the Christmas Eve auction, which in 2023 saw eager participants lining up early in the morning for the festive event. With the future of Smithfield Market and its events uncertain in the long term, this marks a poignant moment in the market’s history as it transitions into a new chapter.

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