LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET

LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET

A CELEBRATION of CHRISTMAS

Enjoy the festive shopping, food and the atmosphere of Lincoln’s Christmas Market, which returns in early December to entertain crowds of over 250,000 people!

CHRISTMAS TIME! Time to enjoy the season, especially if you’re one of the 100 retailers or 200 stallholders in the centre of Uphill Lincoln at the beginning of December. Nicola Lockwood is the chairperson of The Bailgate Traders’ Association and has run Bells Tea Shop at the top of Bailgate for seven years, although the place itself has been serving up refreshing drinks to weary shoppers in its Grade II listed building since the pre-war era. Nicola is also one of the 100 Bailgate and Steep Hill traders looking forward to a busy festive season, not least in early December when over a quarter of a million shoppers will visit Lincoln’s Christmas Market to officially start the festive season. “Bailgate and Steep Hill are amazing places to run a business at any time of the year,” says Nicola. “There’s a real sense of pride in Uphill Lincoln, and we all work together well and support each other. It’s like an extended family and I genuinely think that feeling gets picked up by visitors to the area. I think it creates an atmosphere between traders which then passes to visitors.” “Christmas time is especially enjoyable, even though it’s really brisk, and I think we’re all gearing up to be busier than ever and to enjoy making the most of what Lincoln has to offer.”

“As a tearoom I’m limited to the number of people we can accommodate at any one time, but it’s a time of year when customers will come together, share tables and generally get on really well with complete strangers. If you want to see real Christmas spirit, alive and well, all you have to do is people-watch as they give way to each other share tables and chat to each other.”

“Many people are return visitors and make a pilgrimage to Lincoln Christmas Market, marking the beginning of the festive season for them. It really puts Lincoln on the map and the Christmas Market is something that we all quite rightly look forward to.” “It’s also something which we’re proud has grown enormously. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the event, which began with just 11 stalls and has grown to include 200 stalls, entertainment and which has come to celebrate our relationship with Neustadt.” >>

>> “It’s a good opportunity to enjoy the hand-made jewellery, candles, toys, crafts and other gift ideas that the stallholders all bring to the event, but also an opportunity to visit the independent traders of Bailgate and Steep Hill who have also worked hard to source lots of thoughtful giftware and treats for loved ones too.”

As for Nicola, she and her team have curated a festive menu comprising her Christmas afternoon teas with freshly baked scones, mince pies and turkey & brie paninis. She’s also serving no fewer than 30 different flavours of hot chocolate – dark, milk and white – in order to keep visitors on their feet as they enjoy the market. “We reckon we make three times the number of hot drinks we usually serve over the season, so we’re all busy, and we’ll definitely be ready for a rest when Christmas finally gets here but before that the adrenaline and the atmosphere will keep us going. We all love Christmas here and as Bailgate and Steep Hill traders, we can’t wait to play our part in making this year’s event a success, and giving it the festive atmosphere it deserves for its 250,000 visitors, all keen to get the festive season underway!” n

Lincoln Christmas Market takes place from Thursday 1st December to Sunday 4th December. For more information on the event and it’s Park & Ride scheme, see www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk