People of Bermondsey : Meet Keith and Lorna Taylor, founders of Taylor’s of Maltby
Please introduce yourself and your business
My name is Keith Taylor and I am the co-founder of Taylor’s of Maltby along with my wife Lorna.
Taylor’s of Maltby is a Greengrocers born on Maltby Street Market, we sell from our Shop on Maltby street and are the wholesale providers of fruit and veg for eateries around London.
We have been open since 2019 and have supported the community in Bermondsey and beyond including Islington, Hackney, Muswell Hill, Acton and beyond since then and throughout the pandemic; I still have customers out in Sheen and Surbiton since the pandemic.
We support independent and local businesses, selling their local produce to our Taylor’s community and customers along with our seasonal fruit and vegetables.
How did your Bermondsey story begin?
Keith - I’m from Tooting, when I was two years old we moved to Kennington and I went to Bacon’s School (the oldest school in Bermondsey) on Pages Walk, before it moved over to Surrey Docks in the 90’s where it stands today as Bacons’ College.
The school was split into two and down by Millwall were the 1st, 4th and 5th year students and on Pages Walk the 2nd and 3rd year students; so I have been around this area all my life.
What does a typical day/week look like for you at Taylor’s Greengrocers?
We are open six days a week Tuesday - Sunday 10-4pm/5pm on Maltby Street Market. However, I work seven days a week as we have all of our wholesale orders to complete on a Monday.
Keith - I get up at 1.30am and head to Spitalfields Market where I purchase all of our fresh fruit and vegetables for the day. I leave there at about 4.30am and complete the wholesale delivery’s for the day, following that I arrive at the shop at 6.30am and we sort all of the fresh stock out, restocking shelves ready to open at 10am.
On a Saturday evening when I get home after a day at the market, I literally sleep until Sunday morning through exhaustion!!!
How have you adapted since the pandemic?
We took the business online and utilised social media, we offered home deliveries from the 18th March within the space of two days from the government announcement of the lockdown. We moved fast to support the our regulars and community!
The home deliveries kept growing in size week after week and we continue to do home deliveries today as some of our customers have become accustomed to that.
What is your Bermondsey secret and must-do for any visitor?
Keith - One of mine would have to be Tower Bridge Moorings, London’s only floating gardens at Downings Roads. People live there and they used to open up the gardens to the public sometimes.
I like The Angel pub, thats a great one looking over the Thames.
Manzes Pie and Mash is a must! It used to be my Saturday morning morning at 11.30, about 12 of us lads would go down for a Double Double with Liquor.
Three businesses in Bermondsey you couldn’t live without?
Bermondsey Street Bees Honey, Husk and Honey and Crown and Queue!
What is one dish you have made and loved using the contents of your shop?
We’re lucky enough to stock some wonderful produce and Lorna is amazing at rustling up a ShakShuka for breakfast.
Lorna starts off by frying some Devil’s Mortar from Crown and Queue, then adds The Tomato Stall ShakShuka Sauce. Once simmering nicely, Lorna makes three pools in the sauce and cracks in three Cacklebean Eggs, served with a sourdough from St John Bakery.
What a breakfast!
Our produce is amazing and Lorna is a fantastic cook!
Share with us one of your favourite customer experiences at the shop
I’ll give you two!
One of our lovely customers Federika who recently left Bermondsey bought us the most wonderful gift of goodies and it made us feel so happy and thankful. It truly made our day!
Joe Lycett came in to Taylor’s when he was filming The Great British Sewing Bee locally and was super funny. A great guy.
📍 Arch 52 Ropewalk, 37 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3PA
