Christmas market stalls 'block off' local shops

Liam Douglas said he lost 70% of his sales when the market stalls moved in

Christmas market traders are blocking off a city's small businesses, causing local shops to lose money, owners say.

Each November dozens of market stalls arrive in Newcastle city centre but they are often installed close to existing shops.

Liam Douglas, who runs Priory Press coffee shop, said on the day the stalls were placed outside his premises he lost 70% of his sales and feared being unable to pay his staff.

Newcastle City Council and business improvement district NE1 said they were "confident trade will pick up" now the market was open but were committed to working with business that felt impacted by the stalls.

Mr Douglas said he had expected the stalls to be placed on the other side of the road but they were moved outside his shop without notice.

"The positioning of them has given us the short end of the stick really," he said.

"They're just blocking our store in from the main street, which as a small business isn't ideal."

Priory Press now faces the rear of several wooden market stalls

Mr Douglas said the problem was made worse because one of the stalls sold coffee.

A spokesperson for the council and NE1 said the entrance to Priory Press "remained accessible" and the stalls had been moved to the south side of Nelson Street "to tie the Grainger Market into the Christmas market's footprint more closely".

"We do, however acknowledge that Priory Press feels impacted by the Christmas market chalet in front of its business and are committed to working with and supporting them," they said.

The rival coffee stall has since been moved and Priory Press has been offered the chance to trade from the empty hut.

Laura Jackson, the owner of fashion store Friday Vintage, said vans stocking the Christmas Village on Old Eldon Square had blocked the entrance to her shop and knocked over her signs.

"The whole last week before the set up, it was a total dud week for us as a business," she said.

She said it was an annual issue, and last year heavy machinery was left unmanned outside the shop.

"The worst was when an excavator was hanging over the steps while I had customers in," Ms Jackson said.

"It was incredibly unsafe and unnecessary."

Laura Jackson said vans blocked the entrance to her shop for more than a week

The council and NE1 said they were aware of parking issues around Old Eldon Square but said they were "unrelated to the Christmas markets".

However, NE1 said it had visited Friday Vintage and found four vehicles parked outside. Three were related to work being carried out by a neighbouring business but the fourth was from the market and was moved on.

The council said it would tell market traders they must abide by loading times ad would take action against "repeat offenders".

"Last year saw 1.76 million people visit the market, an increase from the previous years, which resulted in additional spend of £96m in the city centre which can only benefit other local businesses," it said.

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