A TASTY new food market was launched at Reading’s Market Place on Friday. Food-lovers were invited to go along and taste a variety of dishes from around the world.

The food market, known as CHOW, will be run by Southern Market Traders, offering street food alternatives to the community every Friday, between 9am and 4pm.

The event follows on from the artisan food market which stopped earlier this year, after Your Event Organisers, the operator which ran the market, dissolved.

CHOW offers dishes such as Mexican tacos, Caribbean jerk chicken, Greek-style wraps, Spanish paella, and good old English pie and mash.

Bobby Lonergan, Reading Business Improvement District manager at Reading CIC, said: “We are delighted to announce the return of a weekly food market to Reading town centre. Last year’s food market showed that there is a real appetite for street food in Reading.”

Alex Brannan, communications manager for Reading CIC said: “CHOW was a big success, hundreds of people came out to try different foods.”

Mr Brannan added he hopes CHOW will attract new visitors to the town. He said: “CHOW isn’t about profits, it’s about putting something on for the community of Reading to enjoy, and making Reading a more attractive place to come to.”