Lincoln Christmas Market
If anything is going to epitomise the Lincoln Christmas Market it has to be Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle. Castle Square was the original home of the market and over the years the market expanded to the Lincoln Cathedral, The Lawn and surrounding areas.
The Lincoln Christmas Market saw a huge expansion over the years that it operated. In my opinion, the expansion wasn’t particularly well managed with many stalls duplicated and triplicated. The expansion saw a significant rise in visitor numbers. This resulted in the Lincoln council ‘pulling the plug’ on health and safety grounds. In my opinion this was a big mistake as it dealt a huge blow to the local economy and the kudos of Lincoln City internationally.
The market was a huge asset to the city and the wider county. Local employment, small business income and tourism have all been affected by its closure. Its Christmas atmosphere, local financial income and kudos are missed in equal measures. However, with your comments added to this blog and lots of shares around your friends we may be able to encourage a rethink. It would be fantastic to see the market return to Lincoln.
Vienna
As a result of the closure of the market we (my wife and I) decided to seek an alternative to get us into the Christmas mood. That meant taking our custom elsewhere. ‘Another trail’ around the city looking at ice sculptures, knights, imps or monsters didn’t appeal. The first trail was fun but having the same idea rolled out several times a year didn’t inspire us. As a result, our research took us to Vienna.
Vienna has much to offer. Its history, fantastic architecture and many Christmas markets caught our attention. Following some research we planned a short break (4 nights) centred around visiting as many Christmas markets as possible. We managed 7 of the 9 Christmas markets and enjoyed them all.
Lincoln Christmas Market Inspired By Vienna
The Viennese Christmas markets took us to several different areas of the city. All but one was in walking distance (30-40 minutes) from our hotel. It struck me that Lincoln could certainly learn something from the Austrian idea. One of the markets was a local art market where artists and crafters had stalls to sell their gifts. Mixed in with the craft stalls were quality food vendors selling local hot foods and drinks.
The most important point to remember is ‘no duplication’ of stalls. There may have been several stalls selling Christmas tree decorations but they each had their own hand made unique products.
The atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried with enough stalls to keep shoppers interested for several hours. With food stalls and gluvine available visitors were able to spend several hours at the market to enjoy the atmosphere. Local cafes and restaurants also benefited from the increased tourist trade too of course.
Could Lincoln have a series of markets inspired by Vienna?
Market Locations
Just to be clear, the markets in Vienna were all on every day from lunch time until 9.00pm. That’s all 9 markets trading every day from mid November until Christmas! Each market has its own location with a theme. There was some duplication of stalls over the 9 markets but generally each one was unique.
Perhaps some good locations for Lincoln markets would be around the outside of Lincoln Cathedral to encourage shopping around The Bailgate as well as the market stalls. Another at The Lawn to encourage shopping on Burton Road. The Strait, Brayford, the arboretum and South Park would be a fantastic locations to encourage more local shopping. In addition there is Hartsholme Country Park, Whisby Nature Reserve, Doddington Hall, Newark Air Museum and Boultham Park. Perhaps a ‘music themed’ market at The Cornhill? The possibilities are many and varied.
Just A Thought
I wonder how feasible it would be to take inspiration from the Austrian idea? Personally I think it would be a great tourist attraction which would have the advantage of spreading tourists out around the city. Obviously local traders would benefit in their shops just as much as the market stall holders. The knock on effect for restaurants, cafes and hoteliers would be a welcome bonus too. Perhaps ‘flat rate’ taxi fares from market to market would also help another industry.
I would love to know your thoughts. If you have any ideas perhaps you could leave a comment below.
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Merry Christmas
Whatever you do from now until Christmas, I hope you have a very jolly time.
As a local author and attendee of a lot of craft fairs, I think this is a lovely idea for Lincoln! Small creators would benefit, and so would the city. Let’s face it, trails just aren’t bringing in the tourists and the money that the Christmas Market used to. I think this ‘Austrian-style revival’ would make a huge difference!
Thank you for taking the time to have a read and make a comment. Hopefully this blog will be shared far and wide and reach the right decision makers.
Excellent work and I feel the area is crying out for something like this idea..so many venues..I know the City Council have banned motor homes now saying they are a fire risk! We have friends who once a month would visit Lincoln for a couple of nights in their motor home and spend money in restaurants etc, they will know visit places where they can stay and Lincoln will lose out again.
I hadn’t thought of motor homes but I hadn’t realised that the council had banned them either! I would have thought the fire risk would be the same for caravans so I can’t see the logic. If motor homes were allowed to visit it would open up the area to even more tourists. Spreading the Christmas market around the city is a win, win in my eyes. I’ve seen it work so well in Vienna. Let’s hope our council looks again at the Christmas market idea.
Motor homes have been banned from overnight camping in the Lawn car park. I think the fact that they were parked close together, which was seen as a fire risk, was a factor in the ban.
Thanks Garry, that’s good to know.
At Newark Air Museum we use do benefit from additional visitors who came specifically to the Christmas Market. They sometimes called in whilst on their way to the market, or on the way home – we also had some ‘escapees’ who dropped the family off in Lincoln and then came back to the museum.
We have certainly noticed a slight drop in visitor numbers since the market was stopped, and we would welcome its return.
That’s really interesting Howard. The Lincoln Christmas market certainly did have a long reach didn’t it. Let’s hope that it is able to return soon so that it can continue to help our community.
Thanks for writing this, Martin – interesting insights (and you made me want to visit Vienna…) Best wishes with all you’re trying to achieve.
Jill (Gainsborough Choral Society)
You’re welcome Jill, I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. If you dogged to visit Vienna I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
As a local girl and full-time worker, I always used to love visiting the markets in both Lincoln and Woodhall Spa. Now both are no more, and with the limited time I have to shop no market at all for me this year. It saddens me that there was no consultation. I think the idea of a more traditional market would be ideal. Local traders would benefit and it would bring much needed footfall . Bring back the markets! Please.
It’s such a sad state of affairs isn’t it when the council can cancel an iconic market without consultation and then a year later reject any chance of it ever returning.
Good to read this Martin. I used to really enjoy both Lincoln and Woodhall Spa Christmas markets. Both are now no more. As a full time worker and carer, my time is limited and therefore no markets for me this year. What saddens me is that the public were not consulted. Lincoln’s market brought much needed trade and visitors. As you point out Martin, a market of local traders/food etc, as they have in the likes of Vienna could be the way forward..if the council will listen!
Alas, the same council have today (4 December 2024) rejected calls for the Lincoln Christmas Market to be reinstated. They said that “the people don’t want it”. That’s not the feeling that I’m getting!