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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To avoid Manchester Christmas markets

106 replies

Onand · 27/11/2023 09:14

Firstly they’re all selling the same items, woolly scarves, laser cut decorations, sweets, biscuits, tat etc etc. The food and drink areas are beyond packed, huge lines waiting to buy grossly overpriced average food, nowhere to stand or sit to eat the food. It’s freezing cold, damp and smokey with some very dubious smells thrown in.

The weekends must be traveller meet ups because there are lots of of traveller teenagers, some fighting, screaming and causing general mayhem and mischief in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, they closed the doors in Selfridges it got that bad on Saturday. The traffic in and out of the city is gridlocked and the public transport is packed with half cut pensioners stinking of bratwurst.

The crowd control is non existent, the whole place feels hugely unsafe given how many people are drunk from the mulled wine. It’s just a generally abysmal experience especially for young children. Midweek early on is a quieter more calm experience but otherwise avoid them like the plague unless of course you don’t mind the madness. I live in the city so unfortunately if I need to do food shopping or nip to the shops I can not avoid them.

OP posts:
Lifesd · 27/11/2023 12:57

They are dreadful in most places - overpriced shite. Is question the “drunk on mulled wine” bit - the alcohol content must be about 2%….

justsaying2023 · 27/11/2023 13:53

Not somewhere I would take children if I could avoid it, shopping is rarely a treat for little children, unless its a child centred shop. it's better now that it is a bit more spread out. I always had to battle through Albert square to get home in the dim and distant past (pre 2019)

Original poster
Onand · 27/11/2023 18:25

Calendargirly · 27/11/2023 11:36

I live in Manchester and I've only been in to the markets once or twice. Where do you live if you absolutely cannot avoid them when leaving your house??? I'm in the city centre and barely notice them. I certainly wouldn't choose to frequent them.

I live in the city centre and my office is directly across the markets on the other side towards Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, so I cannot avoid them unless I walk miles the long way round 😑

OP posts:
VanityDiesHard · 27/11/2023 18:27

BitOutOfPractice · 27/11/2023 09:20

Slightly hubristic description there op but I agree. You couldn’t pay me to go to a Christmas market!

You mean 'hyperbolic'. 'Hubristic' means pridefully conceited.

ManateeFair · 27/11/2023 18:42

I live in Manchester. I don't think they're as good as they used to be (although they do have food stalls where you can buy locally made food products and deli stuff to take home and I've noticed some nice gifts for sale) and I don't like crowds, so I haven't been this year.

However, other than just noticing them as I walk past, I don't find really find that they get in the way of my experience of being in town. I haven't seen any particularly bad behaviour at the markets at all so far and I don't find it difficult to just walk past.

Yes, the trams etc have been busy - but given that Metrolink REALLY needs the money from fares right now, that's a good thing for the city. Ultimately, I know the city economy does massively benefit from them.

Also, the city is crowded and transport is rammed for other events too, like football matches and shows at the Arena. I used to live a few minutes walk from the Arena and I still travel through Victoria on the Bury line regularly and I've certainly had a few grim experiences with pissed-up groups on the tram in my time.

The weekends must be traveller meet ups because there are lots of of traveller teenagers, some fighting, screaming and causing general mayhem and mischief in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols

That's actually been happening on and off for ages, unfortunately. It's not because of the Christmas markets. I've seen it happen on quite a few weekends throughout the year. (They also caused loads of problems turning up regularly in Heaton Park last year and the council had to spend a lot of money making the parking areas impossible to access by motorhome.)

Wingdingz · 27/11/2023 18:44

The only Christmas market worth going to - imho - is Keswick Victorian Fayre. Lovely.

ManateeFair · 27/11/2023 18:50

DewinDwl · 27/11/2023 09:58

I was there in the weekend and agree that it was beyond capacity to the point of not being safe. Impossible to approach stalls, long queues everywhere, rivers of people inside and outside shops. I didn't see any drunkenness or fighting but it was still the opposite of a good time and a horrible experience for the children. Will avoid like the plague in future.

It's not really meant for kids, though, is it? It's for Christmas shopping, drinking, eating and socialising. It's not really intended to child-centred, any more than going to, eg, the Mackie Mayor or Afflecks Palace. It's a market; it's not meant to be a Winter Wonderland experience type thing.

LoobyDop · 27/11/2023 18:53

Albert Square was always far too busy and crowded, and it seems like since it’s been closed for renovations the crowds have just spread out and taken over the bits that used to be better. I haven’t bothered going for the last couple of years, which is a shame, because it used to be lovely. Doesn’t help that it’s always bloody raining, either.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/11/2023 20:18

You’re right @VanityDiesHard it was early ok? Hope you feel better for pointing that out 11 hours later. It really contributed to the debate 🙄

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 27/11/2023 20:24

They used to be ok about twenty years ago. Now they are absolutely awful. Just horrible, stall after stall of rubbish and expensive food and drink. Grim.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/11/2023 20:27

RoachFish · 27/11/2023 10:27

@ouch44 You should go to the peaks instead. Lot's of lovely Christmas markets and events going on that are much cozier than both Manchester and Leeds: https://boutique-retreats.co.uk/guides/3384/winter-events-in-the-peak-district.html

It cost £25 to park at Chatsworth Christmas market.

Rip off.

Whatapickle23 · 27/11/2023 20:32

I live in the area and on Saturday, I was cutting through and thought I'd pick something up for lunch. It felt really unsafe as it was so busy. I headed to the food stalls and realised it was far too busy, tried to turn back to leave and I couldn't as there were so many people behind me. Nobody could move, we all stood still for what felt like ages, it was gridlocked. It scared me, I got out as soon as I could.

They need more security guards monitoring how many people they allow in. I expected it to be busy but by the time I realised it was too busy, it was too late and I was stuck in it.

Treaclesandwich · 27/11/2023 20:39

Also in Manchester and agree they don’t seem as good as they used to be. That said, I do like them being spread about rather than being crammed in Albert Square. It was always hideously jam packed on a weekend when they were mainly in one place.

I mainly go in the week, when it’s quieter, and only for food and drink (which is usually deeply overpriced but you get more reasonable value if you know what’s worth paying for and what’s rubbish).

justcantgetenough · 27/11/2023 20:40

Yeah the one in Nottingham is rubbish too, same stalls each year, selling same stuff which is crap. Nothing is handmade or different, just like a normal market.

5foot5 · 27/11/2023 21:04

TheQueenofOnyx · 27/11/2023 11:16

It’s closed for this year, but I’d recommend the Chatsworth market. Absolutely gorgeous setting, lots of interesting independent stalls, busy but not packed.

I second this.

I visit this every year and it is lovely with stalls selling stuff you might actually want to buy. I think they avoid it getting too busy by insisting you pre-book your parking. Then when it is sold out that's it.

SweetFemaleAttitude · 27/11/2023 21:06

the public transport is packed with half cut pensioners stinking of bratwurst

Poor the pensioners! 😂 At least they aren't drunk driving. And there are worse smells than bratwurst.

You live local, and sounds like you get about on foot, so what are you moaning about public transport and gridlocked traffic for?

Ladybughello · 27/11/2023 21:11

Not that fussed about Christmas markets personally, but your comments about “drunks” and travellers are pretty weird

5foot5 · 27/11/2023 21:17

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/11/2023 20:27

It cost £25 to park at Chatsworth Christmas market.

Rip off.

Show quote history

£15 on a weekday, £25 at the weekend.
£10 and £15 if you go after 3pm
Obviously the more of you in the car then the cheaper per head.

I think if you have also booked to go round the house or see the light show then you get free parking.

Yes it seems a lot but it means that while it is busy it is not absolutely crammed, so a much more enjoyable experience.

Sidebeforeself · 27/11/2023 21:19

I really doubt they are drunk on mulled wine! I think this is a problem with a lot of cities these days. Day drinking starting earlier.. thanks to bottomless brunches in many cases.. people being generally entitled arseholes . I have lived in a city centre due many years but I’m increasingly anxious with it all . And don’t even get me started on the train journey back!

Wishthiswasntthecase · 27/11/2023 21:19

With you 100%, I was in Manchester on Saturday - all I wanted to do was check if Uniqlo had any Anya Hindmarch left. It was chaos, steered well clear

MessyClock · 27/11/2023 21:32

I think all xmas markets have become samey, overpriced, overcrowded and tacky. I would not visit one anywhere. The one at London southbank one is also full of crap. But possibly not quite as busy, as there are quite a few markets around the area.

I feel sorry for the local craftspeople as their skills probably struggle to get noticed amongst the tat.

Not loving the casual traveller racism here. There will be many more travellers staying at home and not causing havoc…

SandwichSnarfer · 27/11/2023 21:34

YANBU, I do not understand what collective delusion has overtaken us as a nation that we think these miserable, over crowded, over priced, naff, tatty crapfests are fun

LubaLuca · 27/11/2023 21:46

I was in Manchester last week for work and found the Christmas Market made the city centre grimmer than usual rather than more festive.

No matter which market in the UK you visit, they're all full of the same tat and overpriced refreshments, there is nothing new or unique to any of them. I assume they must draw visitors though, or councils wouldn't bother.

Wanttobeok · 27/11/2023 21:59

YABU

If you had just said avoid Manchester though I'd have been right there with you