Liverpool's Christmas markets are back with a bang this year.
The annual festive markets are a vital part of many people's Christmas calendars, with this year's sprawling medley of booths and bars dominating the iconic St George's Plateau in Liverpool's city centre. Those craving hot chocolate, mulled wine, giant Bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps, pick 'n' mixes and all manner of sweet and savoury snacks and beverages are positively spoiled for choice this year.
There's rides, bars, and heaps of stalls selling decorations, soft toys, jewellery and more available to snap up, all under a blanket of twinkling lights and festive decorations. Some traders have returned year on year, while others are new to the scene.
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The ECHO popped down to chat with some of the traders to hear their thoughts on what it's really like to work at the bustling markets. Pam Akins, 66, from Doncaster, works several stalls through Clarke Events, who arranges many of the exhibitors.
Working at The Barrel Bar one cold, wet day, Pam told the ECHO: "The reception has been lovely - I haven't had one bad customer, touch wood.
"The weather has been awful. It was hard setting up in the bad weather. I love it and I love Liverpool. I do it every year but this year I'm going on holiday - it was planned a year ago, so I can't stay until Christmas Eve - the Canaries beckons."
Of the reaction to prices, which has been a point of contention for some attendees and prospective customers, Pam said: "Only one lady [so far] has said [to me] it's too expensive. There's a lot of money invested into coming here - it was something like 90 lorries to bring it all up here and that's expensive. The generators are on, [there's] the safety aspects, the electricity, the licences, all the regulations; it costs.
"We have to have security, there's agency staff. We stay in apartments too, so that's another cost. It's an event - you don't get Wetherspoons prices at an event."
At the popular The Great British Cheese Company stall, owner David Scally - who quipped, "I get a lot of stick here for that, I don't tend to shout my second name" - was full of praise for the Christmas markets and the turn out so far.
David, 47, said: "I love the Christmas market here. I love the people of Liverpool - they're a lovely bunch, they have good banter and they like a bit of cheddar. It's been really well attended - when you put something on in Liverpool, you come together and turn out.
"It's a good atmosphere when it's all going and lively. Like any market, it's better when the sun is out. Personally, for me, this is my second year and we've had a lot of return customers."
Of his prices, David added: "We make artisan products so we know it's a little more expensive than some places." He continued: "I like it when it's in full flow and I like the people you meet - the people from this neck of the woods are upbeat and up for a laugh. That makes our job a little easier and makes time go fast - it makes you want to join them sometimes but unfortunately we can't."
Monika Januszewska, from Poland, attends the Christmas markets every year with her stall, Dobra Kitchen, which specialises in Polish cuisine. Kartofelki, a dish made of potatoes, sausages, bacon, onions and peppers, is the most popular item on the menu, with regular queues from people eager to tuck in.
This year, Monika has also brought the Warm Wool Stand, which sells slippers, hats and more. The 32-year-old, who lives in Liverpool, told the ECHO: "We love it, we feel like the Christmas market is like a family because we've had so many years together. It looks lovely. There's lovely people in Liverpool, every year we get the same customers coming back.
"The wool stall is new for us this year - last year we sold Polish donuts. It's going very well. We have lots of friends here who come and support us here - we'll be working every day up until Christmas Eve."
Monika and her family are a regular fixture on the market and events scene. She said: "We do festivals all around Liverpool and every event in Liverpool, we are there."
Jewellery and decorations stand The Jazzy Frog, owned and operated by Andy Brophy, 37, and Martin Womack, also 37, offers personalised Christmas decorations and unique earrings and necklaces either handmade by the team or imported from abroad.
Andy, from Liverpool, said: "It's been really good this year, it's a bit bigger than last year - there's no roadworks so there's more stalls and better access. People seem to really like it, it's been a lot busier this year."
Martin, from Widnes, explained: "I used to be one of the owners of The Hippy Hole on Bold Street and I separated off and now do my own thing. This is the events side of things. I started doing Christmas markets in 2014 and have done it ever since."
Of The Jazzy Frog's stock, he continued: "We make a lot of the stock ourselves, we laser cut all the wood pieces, we etch things and we also work with some guys in India who make a lot of the jewellery for us. We have a shop in the Red Brick Market, we sell online and work festivals across the UK. [The market circuit] is long, but it's good and it's a nice place to be."
Nearby stall The Sugar Shack Liverpool, owned and operated by 25-year-old cousins Morghann Richardson and Charlie Matthews, is a relatively new business, forged against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
The duo are determined for their business to be a success. Inspired by smash hit Finch Bakery, they offer a medley of sweet nostalgic treats alongside decadent and elaborate creations.
This year's market is their first - though the Liverpool locals knew exactly what to expect. Charlie said: "We started [the business] during lockdown; we're an independent bakery based in Clubmoor. We're online on Instagram and Deliveroo at the moment.
"We do hot school cake and custard, blondie brownies, cookie sandwiches, cheesecake, hot crumble, all sorts. We're loving it to be honest - the first weekend was a sell out for us. It's just the weekdays that are a bit quieter. We absolutely love and are inspired by Finch Bakery and we'd like to be like them. In the future, we'd like to open our own shop.
Morghann added: "It's the first market we've done, but we've both worked in Christmas events in the past so we knew what to expect. It's been so weird seeing queues and queues of people for stuff we've made."
The Liverpool Christmas Markets can be found at St George's Plateau and the top of William Brown Street in the city centre. The markets are open every day until Christmas Eve.
Opening times are Monday to Wednesday from 11am until 9pm, and Thursday to Sunday from 11am until 10pm. On Christmas Eve, opening times are from 11am until 4pm.
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