To think that most christmas markets are having us over

[sunintheeast]

Not bah humbug I love christmas but was at a nice christmas market today.. mostly food.. some makers stalls but my God the price hike.. bought two wraps which were no shred (haha) of a lie like those starters on a chinese resteraunt.. but a single wonton wrap with a teaspoon of meat and a bit of relish.. FOR £24 QUID. I stupidly paid before seeing it and then felt daft and said thankyou.. literally two bites each... the place was heaving.. is it just me??.. £7 hot chocolate anyone ?? looked around..its all gone insane. There were a couple of reindeer looking sad in a pen but it just felt like it's all gone a bit mad. I like supporting local but ,.. anyone else feel the same ??

I park at the farm shop and walk down. (To be fair, I do a big shop at the farm shop after.)

I live in an area with loads of independent shops (that work well not like the thread where they're all terrible!).

There are two Christmas farmer's markets and they're brilliant, going to one today. They'll be brass bands, choirs, and no food over a tenner unless it's an amazing load of food and then it's about £12.

Don't go to the Chatsworth market. Go to the Nether Edge Christmas farmer's market if you're in the area!!

European ones tend to be better. That said we went to the ones on Cologne a few weeks back and they weren't the same standard as the ones in Austria.

Manchester Christmas Market and the frenzy that is London are at best soulless money pits and at worst festy, overpriced, germ factories with zero charm or atmosphere. Everything has become so cookie cutter - you could literally be in any town. Same products, same food, same miserable children and stressed/broke parents. Give me a little alpine village style one in the backend of non-touristy Austria any day.

Christmas markets sure ain’t what they used to be.
I remember years ago going on a coach trip to Lincoln market. I still have some of the dainty ornaments I bought. If got so busy the police were called to stop people going in and they then had to rescue those trapped on the middle of it all!
Nowadays I try and support my festive market but it really is a rip off. Much better and cheaper food in M& S.

Ooh yes. Went to one in Lille a few years ago, magical. However the key ring I bought dh ( not cheap) broke.

Buy a tray of chocolate muffins at Costco, top them with ceap melted chocolate and a few random cheap sweets. Boom!! £5 Christmas muffins!!!

Where is today's?

Is the same at Nottingham Winter wonderland, £9.

5 years ago they were £5...

Peterborough cathedral Christmas market was nice. The one on the main square there now is full of crap.

I’ve given up on UK markets.

I’m currently in France and taking day trips to the various Christmas markets and over the border and I’m really enjoying them. Unique, I’d say 80% of stuff is decent quality, locally made items. Not like the UK where the stalls repeat themselves.

Large cup of mulled wine is 6 euro and then you get a euro back when you return the cup.

A massive bowl of tartiflette is about 13 euro, (had to share it) good quality sausages and buns (not from a Lidl jar) are about 8 euro. I think I read somewhere the authorities are quite strict over what is sold.

There has been a high level of security seen at each market, given attacks in previous years and there have been road barricades and bag searches.

My advice: DO NOT visit at the weekend and check out international bank holidays. Spain and Italy had one on Friday and yesterday’s visit was highly unpleasant compared to previous days.

And you need local currency and cards handy.

Our city does have a non-shit-shed craft fayre in a big hall and that is actually much better. Just tables in a large hall with local sellers. Yes, there is way too much crochet, but they have some nice things.

TbH I find all farmers markets expensive. As my friend said same as Sainsbury's but dearer! The whole concept of mulled wine,sausage roll or mince pies hilked up.Similar items for sale .candles ,pictures or those truck type cheeses

The Birmingham one is excellent!
I didn’t have any drinks so unsure of prices but the food was reasonably priced and no tat to be seen.

Same. The sausages and mulled wine were a seasonal fave about 15 tears ago but once they started having swat teams of police around the corner in case someone tried to hurt people then it definitely took the shine off. That and being shoulder to shoulder with people and the mulled wine from lidl costing silly prices.

There are some awful ones - overpriced, tacky, overcrowded - here in the UK, so why are they so popular? The atmosphere is never good because there’s too many people in the space and I’ve been clutching on to my phone for dear life because of the pickpockets (Manchester). Aren’t these things meant to feel fun and relaxing?

And £10 for a Yorkshire pudding - yay.

I’ve realised that Christmas is actually really nice if you don’t leave the house.

Nether Edge!

That's pretty sad!

My local Town has a regular weekend market, and they have a special Christmas market next weekend which we always enjoy going to. No wooden huts but lots of lovely stalls and not overpriced.
I always find Uk ones too crowded to enjoy - you can’t stop and look at anything and it just feels like you’re moving in a stream of people.

Not sad at all! Christmas lights on, good book, mince pie. Maybe some friends round for mulled wine.

‘doing Christmas activities’ usually leaves you £100 poorer, are crowded and aren’t usually very fun.

They’re not compulsory

I never make an effort or specific attempt to visit them anymore for these very reasons. It's sad and a bit 'This is why we can't have nice things' - the general 'enshittification' of everything. The idea of being outside, wrapped up, warm drink, festive music, atmosphere, happy people - lovely.
The reality can just get in the bin.

I just think people want them to be better or 'for the gram/Tok' and keep turning up for the staged photos.

I don't think you have to stay in but I think we've had more luck going low key for Christmas. Like waiting for the weather to be not so bad and going for a good walk then home for hot chocolate. I'm cynical about "experiences".

This all sounds delicious and properly Christmassy ❄

We managed to book on the site a couple of weeks ago (then had to cancel the day before) but I understand the lease is about to expire and so they’re not taking further bookings.