Harrogate Christmas Market closed today (18 November 2018) ta 5.30pm, following 4 successful days of strong trade for the stall-holders and many visitors.
The weather remained dry throughout and there was a steady stream of visitors, many arriving by coach from far-afield.
Undertaking a perhaps not very scientific analysis, the event has 70,000+ visitors and if they spend £15 per person, then that comfortably develops a million pound of trade – Christmas Markets are big business!
But speaking to the stall holders they will tell you that many visitors get off the coaches, have a quick look at the market, before heading to the town centre. They then spot the same faces as they come back from the town centre to spend at the market.
The event has faced some security challenges this year, which resulted in Montpellier being closed for all but coach traffic and a number of concrete blocks being placed over the Stray.
Organisers have vowed to come back next year, albeit with some changes in its management. Brian and Beryl Dunsby contribute a large amount of time to the event each year and want to take a small step back, while ensuring the event is run by the same group.
We spoke to many stall holders and they all talked about coming back year after year, making good sales, great organisation and lovely feel to the event. Locally it always creates debate around Montpellier being the most suitable location. This has been subject to a structured review that concluded it was (but we will come back to this in future news item). But let’s also keep in mind the market is non-profit making and contributes to local causes.
Congratulations to Brian Dunsby and his team in putting so much time and effort into making this happen once again.
Excellent. Love the market and I live very close and am impacted by the traffic problems. But it’s worth it. Bear market by far. Much better than York as so many local businesses here and not all just food.
So looking forward to next year and more unusual shopping opportunities. Well done to the organisers and thanks to all the local traders.
I love and hate the market, it is such a nice thing to have and clearly brings in a lot of folk, that’s what I love, what I hate, the walkways are too narrow, it is horrible walking around when it is busy, banging into people, you can’t get near the stalls, and why do we have it on the steepest hill in the town ? I was talking to some elderly visitors who came by coach, they said they would not come back, the hill is too steep, please take note Harrogate and move it to the top of the Stray, flat ground, easier for the shoppers to get into the centre of the town to do even more shopping, and more space to make bigger walkways.