Rip-off Christmas markets are charging as much as £9 for a cup of mulled wine and more than £6 for hot chocolate – here are some of Britain’s most expensive festive fairs
Shoppers have slammed some of Britain’s priciest Christmas markets after not-so-jolly punters were left paying £8 for a pint.
In recent years, markets selling food and drink alongside festive gifts and decorations have become an increasingly popular winter fixture in UK towns and cities – but many of these charge much higher prices than you would expect to find on the High Street.
In some spots, the Christmas classic mulled wine will set you back an eye-watering £9 – while even a hot chocolate costs well north of £6.
It’s led to some shoppers shunning festive markets, or being far more careful about what they buy. Here’s a list of some of the most expensive Christmas markets in the country:
London
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, Britain’s most-visited festive market, charges visitors £7.50 for entry at peak times. Once you’re in, you can expect to pay:
- Pint of beer: £8
- Mulled wine: £7.40
- Hot dog: £8
- Hot chocolate: £11
Manchester
Manchester’s Christmas market has over 200 stalls spread across nine locations in the city centre. This is what some popular treats cost:
- Pint of beer: £6.50
- Mulled wine: £5.50
- Hot dog: £8
- Hot chocolate: £5
Leeds
Yorkshire’s largest city has hosted a large Christmas market in the centre for over two decades now. Prices have inevitably risen in that time, and now come in at:
- Pint of beer: £7
- Mulled wine: £9
- Hot dog: £7
- Hot chocolate: £5
Nottingham
It’s one of Britain’s busiest Christmas Markets – but locals now say Nottingham’s annual festive fair getting so expensive that they simply come to have a look at the decorations. Here’s what they have to pay:
- Pint of beer: £7
- Mulled wine: £6
- Hot dog: £9
- Hot chocolate: £6.50
Why are Christmas markets so expensive?
A large part of it comes down to the ‘captive audience’ of revellers at a Christmas market, though there are a few other reasons too.
In major cities like London or Manchester, stallholders can pay upwards of £10,000 for a spot at a Christmas market – a fee that’s reflected in higher prices.
Christmas market sellers also have a very narrow window of four to six weeks to make their entire profit for year, and so are motivated to rake in a large amount of money in a short amount of
The cost of some of the items sold has also risen sharply in recent years due to global inflation. For example, prices for cocoa and sugar have hit record highs recently, leading to a direct hit on festive market favourites such as hot chocolate.
By visiting a major attraction, you’re also paying an “experience premium” that you would also find at music festivals, popular tourist destinations, theme parks, or cinemas. Because this is usually a one-off, once-a-year leisure event, many people will be more willing to part with their cash than on on a regular trip to the supermarket. Vendors know this, meaning they will still get plenty of custom, even if visitors are unimpressed at the prices.
Can I haggle?
Haggling is part and parcel of the typical British market experience all year round – but it’s less common at Christmas markets, which typically operate much more like a selection of gift shops than a farmer’s market, or car boot sale.
Advice from consumer watchdog Which? says: “Though haggling has long been part of market culture, the practice is becoming less common – especially at Christmas markets. A vendor will usually let you know if they have special offers or deals – otherwise, it’s safer to take the price tag as a final offer.”
