General Chat

I've just been reading about the one in Edinburgh, and was discussing Christmas markets in general this week. We have one here, in what I consider the most 'un-Christmassy' location, basically a wide alley, draughty as hell, between concrete monstrosities and buildings of no architectural interest ( putting it nicely Wilko and Iceland are pretty standard and the premier Inn opposite is just a 'block'. ). It opened this week and though I saw the 'chalets' going up as per last year, have not yet visited but have read a few comments on it

eg "a bunch of outdoor eating places in an area already overpopulated with restaurants." "predominantly food stalls "

Now my idea of a Christmas market is of a nice location, plenty of unusual crafts and Christmas decor, with food stalls that are 'different' and festive. With preferably proper music, not echoey piped rubbish.

Have you been to any that you enjoyed? Or that were done particularly well?

Gloucester have had one for two weeks about 150 stalls, lots of different drinks (alcoholic), coffees of all flavours ground and beans, cheeses, and lots of different crafts. Also an ice skating rink and a carousel and plenty of food stalls. We went but it is a victim of their own success and although when we went midweek it was fine, grandson, his wife and two little ones (who are here for the weekend) went and it was so crowded they didn’t stay long. They have coach loads.

Winchester Christmas market is in a lovely setting, right next to the cathedral.

There is a good variety of stalls. I think some of them change over the pre Christmas duration.

It's particularly pretty in the evening, when all the stalls are lit up
I was there yesterday for a quick browse, after visiting family in Hampshire.

https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/events/christmas-market/

Both of those sound much better :-)

We have one in Bath which starts next week, and I hate it! I do a voluntary job one day a week and whether I come in by car, bus or train, I have to walk through the main centre. Alright in the morning but by mid-pm is heaving. There are some nice stalls and it is very well regarded, I usually look up the ones I specifically want to go to, and go early, rather than browse. Just gets too busy and the locals always moan :-D

I went to one in Berlin some years ago and it was beautiful.

We have been to the Bath one and are going again this year as part of a trip, the first part is to Tyntesfield. We will just look at a few as it gets very crowded. But it is nice by the abbey.

We never got to Winchester but when daughter lived there she went every year.

I walk through Manchester's every week on my way to vol job. Doesn't really appeal much. A couple of years ago I went to Munich Christmas market, nothing UK compares to that.

There used to be a Norwegian market visiting Gt Yarmouth (20 miles away) each year but last timer we went, some years ago, it was so small it was hardly worth the effort. I do have some interesting wooden items from the craft stalls.

Lizxx

There is often a good offer on Euro -Tunnel at this time of year..... something like £25 return to France, so for several years we went to Christmas markets which were within reasonable travelling distance, once we'd made the crossing.
We found that there was quite a range in quality, both in locations and goods / services available. Some had beautiful, well decorated stalls selling hand-made crafts.Lovely Christmasy smells floated up from the various eateries.

One market, well advertised with a lot of hype and quite a distance down into France was no more than a row of flimsy potting shed structures down the centre of the main street.The goods on offer were no better than could be bought in cheap supermarkets over here.
What a disappointment.

Ours is next Sunday. Lights are switched on Friday night. It is a small town but we have 2 big events here, St George's day & Christmas. It is only for 1 day but it gets really busy. No coach loads, mainly local people & lots can walk to it. Town is closed off for the day. Loads of stalls, fair rides for the kids. All kinds of drinks, foods & craft stalls. I have done a coach trip to a big city to 1 of the big fairs but prefer ours. It really brings people together.

'Twas at Birmingham Xmas market a few years ago where Dtr first discovered Georgie Por... Puds. She was on business, decided to look around and brought a few back with her.

My Pimms and Lemon pud was delish and we now buy a variety online each year. For those who like Cointreau, Baileys etc they are to be recommended.

Never seen them at all in our neck of the woods.

Have you noticed Christmas comes earlier every year ?
People prepare for it online purchasing by credit card, having only
just paid off last years. In the shops Christmas begins about October
continuing up to Christmas day, then they start selling Easter.
Have these two Christian holidays become a financial enterprise ?
Commerce and Industry.

David, it is very commercialised. I can see it from the shops' point of view , especially those struggling on the high streets, the longer the Christmas buying period goes on the better chance they have of surviving another year.

I have shopped for some gifts online as I really can't manage the walking from one end of the shopping centre to the other ( and still coming up with nothing!) but there is one particular shop which has some nice things I do try to get to. Fewer people to buy for than there used to be sadly, financially it's better but I always enjoyed finding things I knew people would like.

The Early Learning Centre, that I used to work in for was fun at Christmas :-) The brand was sold by Mothercare early this year to 'The Entertainer' group of toy shops, son drove me into town last week and we had a look there to see what ELC products were still available, sadly not as much. So many of the old favourite stores now gone :-(

Yes used to like ELC our has been gone a long time now, always had good toys in there. Was actually quite impressed with Smyths last year when we ventured in. But it is out of town so no good for the high street or if you have not got a car,

Have you noticed the massive advertising creates a "need" for
items we don'r really need.
The purchasing creates employment / industry.
To provide wages to buy the things we "dont "need

Did you know Santa's red and white outfit is Pepsi Cola's colours ?

Looks like we are going to the Lincoln Christmas market - anyone got any advice.

In the UK, have been to Bath, Winchester and Salisbury Christmas markets, a few years ago, which I quite enjoyed, one way or another.
Southampton, same year, didn't think much of.

As live on outskirts of London, visited Winter wonderland, Hyde Park, cant remember how long ago, what utter tosh, about 7/8 well overpriced stalls,
the fun fair rides, not really my cup of tea.
Same year visited the one on South Bank London, Not bad,

My local town has had market, some years, 5 or 6 stalls. Could get better items elsewhere

Over the last 25 plus years, Husband and I,(sometimes with 2 members family) have been to many German/Austrian/French markets Majority of them have been brilliant. Many revisited.
Some we have driven by car, or gone with a coach company visiting many markets in.
Also flown into Cologne, using as a base.

In fact we are going with coach company, this Sunday, for 7 days, visiting Metz, Strasbourg and Colmar in France, Baden Baden, Gengenbach, Freiberg, In Germany.

Liz