Maria’s Market Cafe, a fixture in Borough Market for more than six decades, faces an uncertain future after the traders say the market’s trustees have refused to renew the café’s lease. The business, famed locally for its bubble and squeak and traditional fried breakfasts, has been part of the market long before it became a major tourist draw.
Local institution locked in lease dispute
The café was opened in 1961 by the parents of Maria Moruzzi when Borough Market primarily served wholesale fruit and vegetable traders. Maria later ran the business herself for many years; in 2021 she passed the reins to a long-standing customer, Mark Aldridge, who promised to maintain the café’s legacy.
Owners, staff and neighbouring stallholders describe the café as more than a place to eat: it is a piece of market history and a community hub for traders and regulars. That history could be interrupted because the café’s five-year lease expired this summer and, according to traders, a renewal has not been agreed.
“I made a lasting commitment to Maria when I took the mantle and continued the legacy. I will never back down, as you can’t be wrong and strong.”
A spokesperson for Borough Market declined to discuss details while talks are ongoing, saying it did “not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this stage while discussions are still ongoing.”
What this would mean for the market
If the café closes, traders warn of the loss of a low-cost meal option for market workers and a slice of the market’s social fabric. Maria’s has long served the morning breakfasts for those who worked the stalls and, in recent years, tourists and locals seeking a traditional greasy spoon experience.
- Established: 1961 — originally known as Borough Cafe
- Change of ownership: 2021 — taken over by Mark Aldridge
- Lease status: five-year lease expired this summer; renewal currently unresolved
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Original opening by Maria Moruzzi’s parents |
| 2021 | Ownership passed to Mark Aldridge |
| Summer 2026 | Five-year lease expired; renewal not agreed |
For many traders and customers, Maria’s is associated with modest prices and familiar faces rather than the boutique stalls and higher-end food offerings that increasingly characterise parts of the market. Its continued presence has also been an informal support to the working community who still rely on the market for trade.
At the moment, both sides appear to be engaged in discussions. Borough Market’s cautious public response suggests there may still be room for negotiation, but no timetable or details about the talks have been made public.
Anyone hoping to see Maria’s continue should watch for updates from the café and the market trustees. In the meantime, regulars are gathering to share memories and, where permitted, to voice their support for keeping this piece of Borough Market’s everyday history intact.
