Lincoln Christmas Market’s Future to be Debated Amidst Varied Opinions

The future status of the Lincoln Christmas Market is scheduled for discussion at a council meeting on Tuesday, approximately two years after its most recent staging. The Labour-led City of Lincoln Council previously discontinued the annual event, which originated in 1982, citing issues related to overcrowding. The council indicated its shift in focus towards organizing a series of events across the entire year, rather than a singular market. This raises the question of how local shopkeepers perceive these changes and whether they advocate for the Christmas Market’s reinstatement. Josie Rossington, proprietor of Follie gift shop situated in Lincoln’s historic Bailgate, commented: “The Christmas Market has had its time, but I think it’s really nice that other parts… of Lincoln are being used for events.” She further stated: “We’ve got so much going on here. It’s not just about Christmas. It is about the whole year.” Ms. Rossington noted that recent occurrences, including the Festival of History, demonstrated the city’s extensive offerings. Ms. Rossington expressed that the market had “lost its way” and would necessitate alterations if it were to be re-established. She additionally remarked: “Uphill Lincoln with all its narrow medieval streets is not conducive to 250,000 people coming over a weekend.” Shelley Williams, an employee at the Whisky Shop in Bailgate, indicated a preference for the market’s return in an altered format, though not at its previous magnitude. She mentioned that independent businesses had experienced advantages from the market’s success throughout the years. Nevertheless, she appended: “We don’t need a fairground – just Christmas Market stalls that people want to visit.” “Make it more about Christmas,” she advised. Scott Eversfield, who owns Grayz Tea Room, informed the BBC that the market ought to be more traditional, consistent with its setting within Lincoln’s historic quarter. He asserted: “The big modern stuff distracts from [this].” He agreed with the council’s perspective that the event had grown “so busy” as to become a safety concern. Mr. Eversfield put forward the idea of distributing the event across various other areas of the city. He concluded: “If we can return it to what it used to be I would welcome it back.” Ashley Delaney, representing Redhill Farm Butchers, characterized the council’s decision to proceed without consultation as “short-sighted.” He stated: “We massively miss it – it was one of the busiest times of the year.” He further commented: “It set us up for the quiet months at the start of the year.” However, in reference to the 2022 event, he appended: “It was silly to have that many people in the castle. It’s not designed for that – it makes more sense to have stalls throughout the city.” Stallholder Dieter Krapp voiced support for the initiative to reinstate the market. Nevertheless, he asserted that the event should revert to a traditional German-style market, rather than featuring stalls offering items unrelated to Christmas. He concluded: “If you can bring it back to that, it will be brilliant.” In 2022, the Lincoln Christmas Market drew unprecedented numbers, with over 300,000 visitors attending across four days, significantly surpassing the recommended 250,000 limit. Despite this popularity, organizers issued an apology following complaints regarding overcrowding, which subsequently led the council to discontinue the market in favor of a series of smaller events distributed throughout the year. Joshua Wells, the council’s portfolio holder for inclusive economic growth, affirmed that the revised strategy had already demonstrated a positive effect. He commented: “These events support the city’s businesses across the year, instead of just attracting visitors into Lincoln over one long weekend.” “Our events not only showcase Lincoln’s many attributes but also provide visitors with more opportunities to experience all that the city has to offer at different times of the year,” he added. The potential reintroduction of the market is slated for discussion at an upcoming full council meeting.