Consumer champion Which? recently named its best Christmas markets to visit this winter and this one was among the very top.
I decided to visit with the kids to see what makes Chester’s market stand out from all the rest. Which? praised it in particular for being “a peaceful festive day out”, perhaps a contrast to the livelier atmospheres of the Christmas markets in its nearest big cities, Liverpool and Manchester.
Chester came in just behind Bath in the overall rankings but was commended for its accessibility, parking facilities, and less crowded experience. And to be fair, the first thing I noticed was the ample parking, with two multi-storey car parks located a short stroll from the Christmas market site.
After inadvertently missing the turn for the shiny new multi-storey, I landed in a less polished “old” car park beneath the Crowne Plaza hotel. Nevertheless, a parking space was promptly secured, leaving little room for grievance. A brief walk over to Northgate Street and I was right in the heart of the market action.
One significant perk here is the layout: vendors line just one thoroughfare, so there’s no need to meander searching for various “zones” as one might in a bigger city market.
The historic aura of Chester adds plenty of charm, with a smattering of black and white buildings on either side, and the marketplace faces off with the majestic Chester cathedral. Conveniently situated at the end of a prime shopping avenue, the market blends seamlessly into a day out roaming Chester’s storied Rows and quaint cobbled passages.
The festive ambiance hit me straight away, with fairy light-strung booths, evergreen trees, and baubles adorning the stall rooftops. The centrepiece, an enormous Christmas tree, created an idyllic, picture-perfect tableau. Chester hosts 70 stalls, which is modest compared to the bigger city markets and so it’s a more intimate and enchanting Christmas shopping experience. It is also overwhelmingly geared towards gift-seekers, with the lion’s share of stalls dedicated to unique presents rather than hot food and drinks. The emphasis on local artisan traders also means you’re likely to stumble across some truly distinctive keepsakes.
One stall that caught my attention was brimming with vibrant cloth toys and ornamental letters perfect for personalising a Christmas tree. My children were equally captivated by a Viking horn stall. What’s more, eccentrics will delight in unusual finds like adoptable porcelain ghosts or the Chester Zoo stall’s cuddly animal replicas.
In addition to quirky treasures, the market offers an assortment of alcohol-related gifts and cheese selections, as well as stalls selling beautiful jewellery, Christmas baubles, flavoured fudges, and macaroons. Venturing into the heart of the market near the Christmas tree, we hit upon the central hub of hot food and drink vendors. Deciding to indulge, we found that in terms of pricing, Chester’s not so different from other markets after all — prepare to raise your eyebrows at the cost of drinks and sausages.
Indeed, I’m starting to suspect that there’s been a covert agreement under the Sausage Council of Great Britain suggesting a standardised outdoor price tag of £8 for sausages served in buns, seeing as this seems to be the going rate across all Christmas markets, garden centres and light trails I’ve visited this year.
I did fork out £8 for a Cumberland sausage. Regrettably, this was when the weather took a nasty turn, exposing another aspect of Chester that didn’t sit well with me – the scarcity of undercover spots to take refuge (and protect your sausage). However, the children were overjoyed with the dessert stalls. My eldest son indulged in mini Dutch pancakes smothered in chocolate sauce, which cost £7. My youngest son opted for chocolate-dipped strawberries, which he thoroughly enjoyed. These are priced at £7 .
In the midst of the rain, I felt the need to console myself, so I made my way to the hot drinks stand where I was taken aback by the £7.50 price tag on a Baileys hot chocolate. This is £1 more than I’ve found them priced in larger city markets. Chester also lacks a Christmas mug or glass deposit scheme – meaning your mulled wine or hot chocolates are served in a less-than-festive paper cup.
The Chester Christmas Market Bar, snug beside the cathedral wall within a bauble-adorned tent, serves as the main bar of the market and offers shelter for merry-makers. Here, you can treat yourself to mulled wine priced at £5.50, a pint at £6.50, or a Prosecco at £7. While my children were satisfied with their meals, the market offered limited attractions for younger guests, in my view, and Santa’s Grotto remained elusive during our visit. The relentless downpour towards the end had us desperately seeking dry ground, rather than festive fun.
I’m certain our day would have been much improved if the weather had been better, but I left Chester feeling like I was paying significantly more than I have elsewhere, but without a substantially enhanced experience. If you’re visiting Christmas markets for gifts, you might prefer the cosier atmosphere of Chester over bigger cities, with its variety of unique gift stalls. Plus, the backdrop of the town hall does add a lovely touch.
How much is food and drink?
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the food and drink prices we encountered at Chester Christmas Market.
- Churros – £6 standard, £12 for family size.
- Coconut macaroons – 1 for £2, 4 for £6, 8 for £10.
- Classic beef burger – £8.
- Traditional Cumberland sausage in a bun- £8.
- Mini Dutch pancakes – £6 with sugar, £7 with sauce.
- Chicken/Doner Gyros – £12.
- Halloumi fries – £10.
- Pork roll – £9.
- Beef Brisket bap – £10.
- Roast potatoes – £5.50.
- Pork Scratchings – £4.50.
- Chicken noodles – £9.
- Jacket potatoes £5 – £7 depending on fillings.
- Mulled wine £5.50 regular, £8 large.
- Mulled wine with a dash of rum – £8 regular, £10.50 large.
- Mulled gin – £6.50 small, £8.50 large.
- Baileys Hot Chocolate – £7.50.
- Classic Hot Chocolate – £5.
- Water/soft drink £2.
- Pint of Lager/Ale – £6.50, half pint £3.50.
- Bottled cider – £6.50.
- Prosecco £7 glass, £28 bottle.
- Wine £8 glass, £24 bottle.
- Gins and rums – £7 single, £9.50 double.
What are the times and dates that it is open?
Chester Christmas Market is now open daily until Sunday December 22, 2024.
The opening times of the stalls are:
- Monday – Wednesday 10:30 -18:30.
- Thursday – Saturday 10:30 – 20:00.
- Sunday 10:30 -18:30.
How to get there
Chester Christmas Market is at Town Hall Square, on Northgate Street in Chester. The nearest car park is the New Market multi-storey on Hunter Street.
The city centre is also well-served by park and ride schemes, which can be found on the edge of the city at Upton (at Chester Zoo), Boughton Heath, Sealand Road and Wrexham Road.
Chester Train Station is around a 20 minute walk away from the Christmas Market.
