The first weekly Sunday Goan Market of its kind got underway at Hounslow on Sunday 5th February 2023.
Michael Bevan D’Silva came up with the idea of starting a Goan Community Market in Hounslow. He also got Simon Rodrigues, director of Amigos Nite and owner of Mandovi Restaurant, to co- sponsor the venue for the ‘Goan Community Market’.
Michael went on to say “I thought of starting a Goan market for our Goans in the UK, which is similar to the ‘Car Boot’ sale we have in Hounslow. This is a new venture and it is the first of its kind to my knowledge. We want to tap the potential of our Goans in Hounslow and promote Goan talent. We also want to encourage small businesses in the UK who can’t afford to have their own shops and premises".
The ‘Goan Community Market’ started with around 13 stalls and can accommodate around 200 people at a time. Since it is winter and cold the organisers decided to start with a smaller crowd and will go outdoors at a later point in time.
The marketplace is located inside Mandovi Restaurant at Hounslow Market Place downstairs and had different stalls with homemade Goan food to buy like choris pao, cutlet pao, goan sausages, curry oysters, curry prawns, fish, dry fish, asad bread, sannas and goan savouries and sweets/cakes.
There were ready made products like goan vinegar, pickles, spices, dried chillies, candles, a nail bar, religious statues, clothes, jewellery and household goods and much more. The venue had a bar with music and housie.
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