News Beat
PICTURES: York Christmas Market set to wrap up today
The market is set to close for the final time at 7pm on Sunday (December 21).
Held in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, the market, which first opened on Thursday (November 13), has seen thousands of shoppers flock to buy festive gifts and try out local cheese, preserves, mulled wine, pies and baked goods.
Today, hundreds more have braced the cold weather to make the most of some last-minute shopping, and we were able to catch up with some traders as they wrap-up their final day.
The Hooting Owl Distillery piloted its first Christmas Market stall this year, having opened in March in Rougier Street in March 2024.
The company sold a range of its best-selling vodkas, gins and a variety of different flavours of rum over a two-week period.
Representative Mark said: “We trialled out our first-ever York Christmas Market stall and we are thrilled – business has been great.”
For Richard Edhouse, who has been coming to festive markets in York for 33 years with his Halifax-based business The Crusty Pie Company, trading this year has been “stable”, with hundreds of pork pies, pastries and Christmas meats sold.
His is a stall returning visitors of the Christmas Market come back to time and time again – a tradition that will be upheld next year, Richard said.
Another market veteran is co-owner of Blueberry Hill Preserves Rob Clayton.
Rob’s Wetherby-based business has been coming to the market for a decade – selling visitors their very best chutneys, jams, pickles and marmalade.
Speaking about trading this year, he said: “It’s been slightly different this year.
“I think Christmas shoppers spread their time out a little differently and we’ve seen more shoppers visit on the weekdays – which creates a nicer environment during the weekend.
“We have held a stall at York Christmas Market for the past ten years, it’s always been so lovely and well organised.
“It’s a dream for small businesses like mine – with a third of our annual turnover amounting from our time here.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have it.”
Rob and his wife tour Yorkshire with Blueberry Hill Preserves – attending over 80 events per year but said the market in York is the busiest fixture in their business calendar.
James Robinson, an employee at Johnsons Toffees – a confectionery company in Castleford – said that “fortunately, the market had stayed open throughout its time in Parliament Street and St Samson’s Square, despite some poor weather.
He said: “Last year, the market had to close for a few days after some bad weather, but fortunately this didn’t happen this year – and we have had a steady period of trading since we opened in November.”
