Belfast Christmas Continental Market 2009 – breaching the Trade Descriptions Act?
Posted: 21 December '09 by Niall
Belfast City Council events
When I wrote the post about the Belfast Christmas Continental Market 2009 I did say that I had two misgivings about the event: the cost of everything at the market and, more importantly, the increasing prominence of the beer tents in the event. Now that the Christmas Market has closed for another year, perhaps it’s time to review..
We went to the market once this year, and once was more than enough. The huge queues for the Laverys beer tent which blocked other stalls, the drunken revellers falling about the City Hall grounds and the streets beyond, and the smell of stale beer and puddles vomit meant that it was also a flying visit.
I’ve never quite understood how Laverys beer tent – and the term “tent” hardly does the sprawling, canvas covered bar area credit – came to be part of the “Continental” market. Are Frogs’ Legs or Pretzels sold as bar snacks? Perhaps the sale of French beer is all that is required? Or maybe it just comes down to how much money is being paid for the premier location that the vast marquee seems to be provided with. Whatever the reason – and it really doesn’t matter what the rationale is – the beer tent doesn’t contribute to the enjoyment, to the festive atmosphere, to the (much publicised) family-safe character, nor the “continental” content of the Belfast Christmas Continental Market.
Given the sheer size of the Laverys tent in what is a very limited space it felt that there was very little which was “continental” about the market. I’m no marketing copy-writer, so I’ll leave it to someone else to come-up with a snappier strapline than what would be a more accurate description of what the Christmas Market has turned into: The Belfast City Hall Booze-Up-with-Crepes-which-happens-to-be-at-Christmas.
It’s partly our fault too. Every time that there’s a bar at these events it’s absolutely stuffed with thirsty customers and the whole thing seems to become all about the drink – just look at the Belfast Taste and Music Festival 2009. I know that having a drink is part of our culture, but does it have to dominate an event to the detriment of everything else? Both Kelly and I love St. George’s Market and really enjoy the cosmopolitan and friendly the atmosphere – and we’ve wondered whether Belfast could carry-off the sort of frenetic, energetic celebration of food that la Boqueria in Barcelona seems to manage so effortlessly, where you can buy still-twitching fish from one stall and stop for a refreshing glass of prosecco or beer and a bite to eat at another. Sadly, probably not – the addition of alcohol would probably spoil what we already have.
The Christmas Continental Market could be a truly enjoyable, welcoming event, one that does become part of everyone’s festive calendar – but it needs someone to be brave and to have some vision for the City Centre and what the majority of people really want from their city at Christmas-time. So, come on BCC – next year, give us a real Christmas treat – a Christmas Market that is about the people, not about how much money can be generated from selling pitches to local bars. Maybe then you’ll have some real Christmas cheer in the city centre.
Tags: belfast
Categories: Things to do
Well said… same old cr*p again this year – overpriced food that was novel the first year and has been boring ever since. But then does BCC really care what happens at it when they get paid their site fees by Lavery’s and whoever else plants their beer tents at the front of City Hall?
Well said!! Both myself and linda walked in and straight back out again as to your post above were hit by the site of a massive “Q” at one of the beer tents, drunks swearing, somebody being sick as well as somebody having a pee against the newly renovated city hall!! I should not have been shocked as this sort of thing is a regular scene in Belfast! Oh how lucky we failed in our application for european city of culture. Where can families go??
I can’t believe what I’m reading here! We were trading at the Belfast ‘Continental’ Christmas Market for the past 2 years and we are in complete agreement. We made a loss both years due to the exact reasons you have given. The ‘shoppers’ we needed to see were also deterred by the Christmas revellers and we were left with the unenviable task of chasing drunks from our stand until 10pm. Sadly for some of our regulars, we will not be returning next year and we believe there are many more ‘genuine’ continental traders feel the same way. However, there is good news for the organiser: there will be more room for all those bars next year! Thanks for the opportunity to rant!
I THINK YOU LOT ARE A LOT BETTER OFF STAYING AT HOME WATCHING YOUR TV AND STOP MOANING ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS HAVING A GOOD TIME .
Come on guys, you must realize that the reason the vast majority of people visit the Market is to have some fast food and enjoy an evening at one of the beer tents?
In 2009 £20 million was spent in Belfast City as a direct result of visitors coming to the city specifically for the Christmas Market (BCC) and this event costs BCC nothing to produce and in fact BCC earns an income from tender for the market.
Hi Mick,
Revenue is necessary, obviously – but why appeal to the lowest common denominator? If we’re looking at revenue alone, the profits available from targeting the event towards families, rather than boozing revellers, is far greater – even excluding the additional costs of security and health & safety in the city centre because of those massive beer tents.
We’re all for a little merry-making at Christmas, but it seems that a lot of the events that BCC organise descend into little more than an excuse to drink. If this is the strategy for generating revenue, then BCC needs to have a look at their business ethics. We’ve been to more than a few Christmas markets around England and they atmosphere at this events is wholly different. Are you saying that BCC is more profit-driven than these other councils?
It’s a false economy when people simply do not return to the market because of their experience the previous year.
From speaking to a few of the traders, there’s concern in that quarter too. You’ll notice that there are fewer and fewer continental food stalls there..
I wonder how long the Christmas Continental Market can keep the name.