Traders Claim £15,000 Stall Fees Price Them Out of Christmas Market

Traders in Liverpool say they have been priced out of the city’s Christmas market after a new operator took over the St George’s Plateau attraction with stall fees reaching up to £15,000.

Traders Face High Stall Fees

Anthony Grice told Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson that stall fees had been quoted at £12,000 for the St George’s Plateau attraction. Jeweller Alex Healy, who has traded at previous markets since 2021, said her costs for the smallest hut available would reach £14,000 to £15,000.

Leader Defends Market Selection Process

Liam Robinson defended the selection by stating that Underbelly won the tender on quality and price and possessed a track record of delivering these markets successfully in lots of other places across the country. Robinson also mentioned that he had met business owners to understand the challenges and issues they might have had this year so the authority could look at different options in future, and he invited Healy to meet him to look at ways the council could support her business because he wanted entrepreneurs like her to succeed.

Liverpool Christmas market traders say stall costs have doubled under new operator

To address concerns, a Liverpool city council spokesperson pointed to alternative selling opportunities for local traders.

Local Trader Concerns Over Scouse Soul

Grice expressed frustration during a meeting to discuss the plans, stating that local traders’ concerns felt swept under the carpet.

I asked how many local traders had signed up, and the council didn’t know

He also questioned the cultural representation at the event, noting that These markets should be a chance to showcase the best of what you’ve got, but not having the ‘Scouse soul’ there is so annoying. Grice further asked,

Healy, who comes from Gateacre, pointed to broader economic pressures affecting her customers as a barrier to absorbing higher operational expenses, stating she was acutely aware of the cost-of-living crisis facing her buyers. I don’t want to raise my prices. I shouldn’t have to, she said, explaining that she had the smallest hut available, but that price she physically could not afford it.