Brighton Christmas market cancelled

Brighton & Hove City Council said it could not find a commercial partner to stage the event

Brighton's Christmas market has been scrapped after the city council's attempt to replace it with a community-led event fell through.

Brighton & Hove City Council announced that the Christmas markets would not return this year after failing to secure a commercial partner to fund the event.

The local authority said it could not spend the £70,000 needed to carry out the event as it faces an "enormous funding crisis".

Lead councillor for tourism and culture Alan Robins said: “Organising a Christmas market for the city was always dependent on finding a new commercial partner to help us to fund and co-ordinate the event.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to find a partner willing to commit to the project for a single year."

The city's Christmas market attraction had been hosted by an independent events company for the last two years, but it cut short its three-year contract earlier this year citing difficulties because of Covid, rising costs and supply chain problems.

Mr Robins said: "We wanted to create a different kind of Christmas market this year - because in the two years it was staged it was never actually all that popular with the public, and was also expensive for traders who wanted a pitch there.

"We received a fantastic response from community groups, artists and makers in the city keen to be involved in a Christmas event - and we appreciate they will be disappointed.

"However, we will keep in touch and look forward to involving them in future Christmas events in the city."

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