Ashton’s Fishmongers

The ONLY place to buy fish in Cardiff.
Don’t forget to ask for your fresh cockles to eat straight away, a sprinkle of vinegar & pepper, you’ll become a regular like me!

There are two Cardiff’s in this city. There’s the shining, shimmering, reflective-​windows and modernist architecture of new Cardiff; the place where the St. David’s 2, the Mermaid Quay and the Millenium Stadium are proud landmarks angled towards turning our fair city into a multi-​storied metropolis that can compete with London, New York and Paris. On the other hand, there is old Cardiff, with its fading, brown and green buildings and churches that remind the denizens that Cardiff has history.
The market is the quinessential example of the latter, and Ashton’s, the fishmonger’s on the Queen Street side is a scented beacon to the public who are out looking for that old Cardiff town.
The counter displays a huge array of fresh fish produce, and you get a far more personal service there than you would at the fish counter in Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s. If you’re a fan of it, the smell is something you’ll treasure; a freedom fighter against the sanitisation of the high street. If you aren’t a fan, the smell will haunt you for weeks afterwards. You’ve been warned.

This is a shop inside the historic Cardiff Market. An old Victorian building that remains a good source of produce from local traders. As you enter the market you will be greeted by the same smell of fresh fish that has filled my childhood memories of this place.
That smell was constantly fluctuating up my youthful nostrils was coming from Ashton’s Fishmongers. Your nose will spot them as soon as you enter the market on the entrance located by the Church of St John the Baptist. They’re a market trader that offers every variety of fresh fish you could ever want to lay your hands on behind a counter on top of sea of ice.
As with all the traders in the old Cardiff Market, Ashton’s Fishmongers is an expert in its field, so they will be able to offer expert advice and guidance that you know you can trust.

When I was a kid I used to live in a small Cornish village where the fishmonger would deliver to us in a little white van once a week. I was a typical small kid. I liked fish fingers, fish cakes and tuna from a can. I didn’t like seeing my mother prepare proper fish with their fishy scales and their bones and those eyes, especially the eyes. I became vegetarian.
Today the fish eyes don’t bother me so much, and I am an avid believer in buying local and prefer my flesh eating friends to source better meat and fish, and eat less often. I am not alone. This is one of the reasons that Ashton’s thrives. They sell great fresh fish of a wide variety and you can buy it right in the heart of Cardiff. Not ALL of it is local, mind: ‘Fish and shellfish is sourced from every fishing port in the UK. Fresh fish is also purchased from various parts of the world, including Alaska, Norway, Chile, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles. The company will also mail order the Welsh delicacy lavarbread.’ So if these things bother you, check first.
It is one of the largest fish retail outlets in the United Kingdom, employing around 25 staff and their other catering supply business supplies many of the major hotels and restaurants in the Cardiff area. They should know what they are doing too, Ashton’s set up shop way back in 1800 and has been in the Central Market since 1890.
As well as fish, Ashton’s also sell poultry and game. During the game season, wild boar, kangaroo, ostrich, emu, pheasants, partridge, grouse, wild duck and rabbits are available. You can see a full stoclist for fish, shellfish and meat on their website. They also list loads of recipes on their site, here’s their one for Smoky Topped Fish
Ingredients
4 x 170g (6oz) thick coley or cod fillet, fresh or frozen
salt and blackpepper
knob of butter
dash lime or lemon juice
60g (2oz) cheese, grated
4 rashers of grilled bacon, chopped
slices of lemon, to garnish
Method
Preheat the grill
Place the fish onto a lightly greased grill pan. Season.
Dot with the butter and sprinkle with lime or lemon juice.
Grill for 8 – 10 minutes (15 – 20 if frozen).
Sprinkle with the cheese and top with bacon.
Return to the grill and continue to cook for a further 1 – 2 minutes.
Serve with stir fry vegetables.
Serves 4
Hungry? You know where to go.

Ask any senior citizen of Cardiff what the name Ashton means to them and they will immediately reply Ashtons the fishmongers in Cardiff market. This is because the present business was established in 1800 and still growing strong. Although not now owned by the Ashdon family the business has had three owners in 200 years.
It is a remarkable shop as to my knowledge there is no other fishmonger in Cardiff that can offer such a range of products.
There is a vast variety of fish You name it they sell it Bass, Cod, Mackerel. Salmon, Haddock, Herring. Lemon Sole and many that I cannot recall and in addition shellfish of many kinds
There is a small ‘Bar ’ where you can sample on the spot a small dish of whatever cooked shell fish you fancy The favourite seems to be cockles the taste is improved by the application of vinegar which is provided at the ‘Bar’ .
My favourite purchase is that Welsh delicacy Larva bread Not perhaps to everyone’s taste as the almost jet black colour puts people off. It of course is prepared seaweed. If you wish to sample it cooked the Bull Massive café upstairs in the same market has it on the menu. Ashdons also sell poultry and game and also exotic meats for example Wild boar, kangaroo, Ostrich, Emus, Pheasants, partridge, grouse wild duck and rabbits. from time to time.
Their website has a lot of interesting recipes if you wish to experiment.