One Christmas market has a wonderful vibe but some traders say they ‘can’t afford to trade’ there
Traders at a UK Christmas market that has been a major attraction for visitors have voiced worries that smaller businesses are being “priced out”. Balancing the soaring cost of living means traders have plenty to think about already, such as maintaining reasonable prices for shoppers, but they also need to cover the initial cost of the pitch along with other business expenses — and turn a profit at Christmas markets.
Plymouth Christmas Market in Devon boasts a fantastic atmosphere but it is a ‘poorer city’, according to traders. In the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 published in October, Plymouth was ranked 64th “most deprived” local authority in England, out of 317 areas.
Now, some Christmas market traders in the city have claimed fees for a pitch this year are “extortionate” but the market’s operators say they ensured the “pricing is fair” at the festive Plymouth market.
This is the first year that organisers Market Place have taken on Plymouth’s festive market and they highlighted that there has been “an additional trading week compared to last year, offering extended opportunities for sales”.
However, some local business owners have declared that they “can’t afford” to trade in the city centre’s Christmas market as covering costs is “unaffordable”, particularly for craft items as opposed to food. One trader with a stall this year said the fees for a pitch were “extortionate”, adding that some “‘local traders have been priced out”, reports the Express.
The business owner wished to remain anonymous, but stated: “Plymouth is a poorer city and that should be taken into account. As well as the pitch fees there are other costs to manage before we can make a profit.”
Another trader commented: “The rent increase was nearly £3,000 (since last year) and we were promised a big wheel, a helter skelter, a Victorian carousel and a Santa’s grotto. That was key for the rent increase but none of it materialised.”
Market Place stated they were “not able to share commercially sensitive information relating to trader pricing” but there has been much public conjecture about the rates on social media.
In some other regions, such as Rochester in Kent for instance, the festive market is organised directly by Medway Council who published the pitch cost for Rochester’s festive market online, with the most expensive being £4,788 for the nine-day trading period.
When asked about the pitch fees in Plymouth, a spokesperson for Market Place said: “We are not able to share commercially sensitive information relating to trader pricing. “However, we can clarify that figures circulating publicly are often speculative and do not accurately reflect how trader fees are structured.
“In order to make participation as fair and accessible as possible, pitch costs at the market are not fixed at a single rate. Fees vary depending on a number of factors, including the nature of the product offering, the size and type of unit, and operational requirements. For instance, craft vendors are charged at a lower subsidised rate as we understand they may not generate as much trade as food vendors.
“We work closely with traders to ensure pricing is fair and proportionate, and this year’s market also included an additional trading week compared to last year, offering extended opportunities for sales.”
Market Place added: “The procurement of rides or other attractions had no impact on the rents set for the Plymouth Christmas Market. Rental levels were agreed in advance of any discussions that took place regarding the potential addition of rides, and were not influenced by them.
“The rents were determined based on the tendered fee, the additional seven days of trading that did not take place in 2024, and the overall operational overheads required to deliver the market, such as equipment hire, security, and cleansing.”
