Businesses in Nottingham city centre have painted a mixed picture about footfall since the Winter Wonderland arrived. Many businesses have said that custom is the same.
However, for one particular pub there’s a “good knock-on effect” from the Christmas market. Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: “The Christmas market is a great way of attracting people into the city.
“It is a great boon to the city and our pubs close by. Our pubs are very popular with those people visiting the Christmas market and it has a good knock on effect for them.”
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Differently, Six Barrels in Hockley has “not really” seen a change in footfall. Warren Lidsney, manager of the pub on Carlton Street, said: “We’ve not really seen a difference. We’re usually busier in the evening time and we haven’t put our prices up over Christmas but we’ve not really seen any change.”
Hop Merchant is on Upper Parliament Street. The pub offers craft brews, heritage ales and more.
The Winter Wonderland, however, hasn’t increased the venue's footfall. An employee, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s just the same. We have picked up a bit because of Christmas and I have heard people come in speaking about the prices [at the Winter Wonderland.]
“The prices are extortionate and it’s obviously cheaper here. Neck Oil at the Christmas Market is £9 and here, it’s £5 something. There’s plenty of bars around here that charge less than a fiver for a drink so I can understand why people wouldn’t spend there [at the Winter Wonderland.]"
Shoppers have said that they like the “aesthetic” of the Winter Wonderland but aren’t buying much. Sue Cinder, 59 is from The Meadows. The dinner lady said that the prices at the Winter Wonderland are “ridiculous.”
She said: “It’s lovely to see the market up and running and traders out. The aesthetic of the market is nice - I’ve walked around it the second day it was open but it is really expensive.”
Sue added: “I think that people will definitely end up going into a Wetherspoons or maybe a restaurant after walking up and down the market and maybe going on a ride.” Danni Smith, 25, of Strelley, added: “I think that it’s doable maybe spending a bit of money at the Christmas market just once and looking to see if you can get any presents but once you’ve been, you’ve been. I know that I definitely won’t be coming back to buy anything.”
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