Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce has confirmed plans for a new Christmas Market in the Town Centre from Thursday 22nd November to Sunday 25th November 2012, to coincide with the switch-on of the Christmas Lights. Aiming to compete with established Christmas Markets in other towns such as Bath, Lincoln, Nottingham and York, this four-day Harrogate Christmas Market is planned as a high quality up-market event with a Yorkshire and Harrogate theme, attracting more visitors to Harrogate to see the Christmas Lights and enjoy the town centre’s many shopping and hospitality facilities.
The location will be the short section of St Mary’s Walk at the bottom of Montpellier Hill opposite the White Hart Hotel, where coaches drop off during the summer. During this event the coach drop off will be on West Park at the Pier Head, near Bettys, with the pick-up at the bottom of Montpellier Hill.
The Harrogate at Christmas Group has now been running for three years under the Chairmanship of Councillor John Fox who said:
The aim of the Market is not to take business out of the town centre, but to bring many more people into the town. Extra Christmas lighting will be provided up Montpellier Hill to provide an obvious link for Market visitors to and from the town centre. A shuttle bus service will also operate frequently between the Christmas Market, the Bus and Rail Station and the town centre shops.
The Chamber’s trading company Yorkshire Business Market Ltd. will provide up to 80 attractive chalets, mini-marquees and traditional market stalls of various sizes and they will recruit established traders offering suitable quality merchandise with a Christmas-theme. Local retailers will be encouraged to participate with discounts for Harrogate Chamber Members, Harrogateat Christmas Supporters, Harrogate Food & Drink Group, Deliciously Yorkshire members and other Yorkshire businesses.
Harrogate Chamber will be promoting the new Christmas Market, supported by the Harrogate at Christmas Group, the Promoting Harrogate Group and the Harrogate Town Centre Group to maximise support from the local business community including many hotels, guest houses, restaurants and bars.
Brian Dunsby added:
Many Coach Operators are being contacted to bring groups from all over the North of England and the Midlands to see Harrogate’s Christmas Spectacular Shopping package! We have also invited Father Christmas to come on his sleigh pulled by real live reindeer!
