CHRISTMAS markets are returning to Stratford for another year with much-needed changes still in place.
Boasting some 200 stalls on Waterside, Henley Street and Bridge Street, they will again take place over two consecutive weekends, on November 29 and November 30 and December 6 and December 7.
This is the second year they have been put on in this way rather than a continuous four day event from a Thursday to Sunday to allow visitors to experience the markets on what are traditionally the most popular days, while significantly reducing midweek traffic congestion.
Much-needed changes were made to Stratford’s Christmas Market back in 2024 following a raft of complaints including overcrowding.
The Victorian Market began in 2017 and was originally a three-day event with 207 stalls, but in 2021 it was agreed to extend the event to four days due to its growth and popularity.
It is now the biggest Christmas market in the country and is bigger than the Birmingham German Christmas Market, which operates in a fully pedestrianised area unlike Stratford.
In 2023, there were 320 stalls at Stratford’s Christmas market and more than 200,000 festive revellers were estimated to have attended.
The 2023 debrief raised a number of issues including overcrowding – especially on the Saturday, excessive noise from the funfair, traffic movement and congestion, problems with access for emergency vehicles, food hygiene on the Feast Street stalls, and pressure on public toilets with very long queues.
There were also reports of stalls being crowded together with insufficient gaps inbetween them.
SDC’s Cabinet agreed in 2024 to put on the event over two weekends instead and scale down the number of stalls.
During this year’s markets Bridge Street and Waterside will be fully closed to traffic, High Street will be one way towards Barclays roundabout with no parking and there will also be no parking on Union Street.
Wood Street will be open both ways, but egress will be down Union Street only as there will be no vehicular access to other streets.
Sheep Street will be open.
Visitors are encouraged to use the park and ride at Bishopton. Normal park and ride charges will apply on each of these days.
