New Christmas market approved for Cambridge

Cambridge City Council has approved plans for a new Christmas market on Cambridge's Parker's Piece

A new Christmas market has been approved by a council in Cambridge after organisers pulled out in 2022.

No Christmas event was held on Cambridge's Parker's Piece in 2022 after the former organisers of the annual 'North Pole' event pulled out.

New organiser Seventa Events said the first event would be held in 2024.

The event's plans, which Cambridge City Council approved, include an open-air ice rink, curling lanes, and a Christmas tree maze.

It is also expected to have a lodge bar, Christmas market stalls in traditional timber cabins, food and drink stalls, a Santa workshop, a carousel, and a big wheel.

Seventa Events said it wanted the event to be the “absolute best it can be” for the city.

The company Alpine Christmas Markets Ltd said at a council planning committee meeting on 4 October it had taken a different direction to planning the event, including no "thrill fairground rides" to reduce its noise and light impact.

It has been given permission to hold the event for four years, and has said it plans to begin the new event from next year.

Liberal Democrat councillor Katie Porrer said the event appeared to be a “high quality offering”.

The plans were not "transparent" in showing the ferris wheel was going to be the site's existing observation wheel, she added.

Labour councillor Dave Baigent said he “welcomed” the new event, and added he was “sad” it might not be held this year.