Attachments
11 Nov 2015
The ancient market City of St Albans, 20 minutes on the train from London, is creating a walled Christmas village especially for its 2015 Christmas Market, which will run from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 20 December.
St Albans has one of the oldest markets in the country – its charter market is the longest running regular market held in the same place (for over 1,000 years) in the UK, but this year's Christmas Market will only be its third German-style Christmas Market.
It will once again be held in the Vintry Garden, in the beautiful ancient quarter of the town, in the shadow of the 11th century St Albans Cathedral and a stone's throw from the oldest pub in England (Ye Olde Fighting Cocks). But this year, St Albans is using a special events company with nearly a decade of experience of Christmas Markets, and is creating the 'Vintry Village', complete with street names that will delight the children, such as Rudolph Row, Tinsel Terrace and Pudding Place, to add to the magic and to make finding stalls easier.
Last year the Christmas Market doubled its visitors to 90,000 (up from 45,000 in 2013) and welcomed just under 100 traders. This year the market is hoping to beat last year's numbers, and attract over 100,000 people to experience the Vintry Village.
It will once again be held in the Vintry Garden, in the beautiful ancient quarter of the town, in the shadow of the 11th century St Albans Cathedral and a stone's throw from the oldest pub in England (Ye Olde Fighting Cocks). But this year, St Albans is using a special events company with nearly a decade of experience of Christmas Markets, and is creating the 'Vintry Village', complete with street names that will delight the children, such as Rudolph Row, Tinsel Terrace and Pudding Place, to add to the magic and to make finding stalls easier.
Last year the Christmas Market doubled its visitors to 90,000 (up from 45,000 in 2013) and welcomed just under 100 traders. This year the market is hoping to beat last year's numbers, and attract over 100,000 people to experience the Vintry Village.
Liz Marcy, Christmas Market manager, says: "The location is simply stunning and we get a lot of positive feedback, with stallholders and visitors alike saying this is one of the prettiest Christmas markets in the country. The Vintry Garden was once a vineyard, tended by medieval monks', when the Cathedral was an Abbey, and it lends itself really well to a magical family experience, because the walled garden has an enchanted, secret quality to it. We are hoping to build on that this year by creating the Vintry Village, to make a visit to this market even more special for everyone. ”
The pretty Christmas Market will be the ideal place to buy gifts and goodies made by local designer-makers, as well as from suppliers across the UK. St Albans's charm lies in how well the City mixes the contemporary with the traditional and authentic and the 2015 Christmas Market will aim to do the same with a range of gifts and homeware, from traditional, wooden, crafted gifts to personalised gifts, decorations, Christmas Hampers, jewelery and fashion accessories.
The food and drink offering will be second to none, with plenty of delicious new options as well as old favourites such as Bratwurst and hot pork rolls.
For more info, go to www.enjoystalbans.com
ENDS –
Notes to Editors:
Press Contacts:
Sophie Banks and Angie Cronin
Loudbird PR and Communications
Tel: 07815 147073 and 07970 810302
Sophie Banks and Angie Cronin
Loudbird PR and Communications
Tel: 07815 147073 and 07970 810302
Market dates
The Market runs from Thursday 26th November to Sunday 20th December.
Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11am - 6pm; Thursday 11am – 8pm; Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Launch event
The Christmas Market opens on Thursday 26 November with a magical launch event for all the family from 5pm - 7.45pm. The Vintry Village will be opened by the Mayor of St Albans, with special icy and festive guests providing entertainment. Bjorn the polar bear is back by popular demand and is sure to delight the children and grown-ups alike. He will be joined by the cheeky Nutkins. All this to the accompaniment of live festive music and an outdoor inn selling Gluhwein.
About St Albans
St Albans is a vibrant and historic market town with the stunning 11th Century St Albans Cathedral at its centre. With exquisite ancient streets and buildings the city is full of character and very popular with both tourists and locals. The City boasts Britain's first Saint, Alban himself, the country's oldest pub, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (in the Guinness book of records), the country's oldest public school (St Albans School) and the only working medieval clock tower in the country. St Albans has many attractions to visit, as well as award-winning independent shopping, restaurants, pubs and coffee houses.
The city's colourful history can be seen in the Roman remains and the beautiful medieval and Tudor architecture throughout the city centre, but is also to be found in the lush green parks and countryside.
St Albans is just 20 mins on the train from London and a short hop off the M1 and M25 motorways, within easy reach of London Luton and Heathrow airports.
Where to stay:
The Clarion Collection Hotel. Prices start at £92 per room (city centre, opposite the Cathedral and market)
St Michael's Manor Hotel, Fishpool Street, St Albans (0.5 miles from city centre)
Sopwell House Hotel & Country Club in Sopwell Lane, St Albans (1.5 miles from city centre)
