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Edinburgh Christmas market 'should be accessible to low income families'

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorDonald Turvill
Published date16 June 2022
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
It comes as contracts to run the capital's winter festivals changed hands, sparking hopes that a new approach will be taken this year

But it's not yet known how the two companies which made successful bids will shake-up the Christmas attractions, and council officials have been pressed for details on how they will be made available to a wider audience.

The council's finance committee met on Thursday (June 16) to confirm the awarding of contracts to Unique Events and Angels Event Experience.

A report shows Unique Events, the original organisers of the Hogmanay festival when it launched in 1993, will take back the contract worth just over £4 million, whilst Angels Event Experience, organisers of London's Hyde Park Christmas market, will bring in an estimated £5,473,500 in rental income from stalls and amusements in Princes Street Gardens over the next five years.

Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross voiced concern about the lack of information provided on how Angels Events will restructure the way the market is run "and what they might charge for them".

Vicky Nicholson, SNP, added that as a single parent she has "avoided the city centre for a month out of every year around the Christmas period because it was unaffordable to people on a lower income" and asked for further details on how attractions would be priced.

David Waddell, senior culture and events officer for Edinburgh City Council, replied: "Unfortunately that's not available at the minute but once we have that we'll be able to share with members.

He added: "The events need to be accessible both to families who are on lower incomes and to traders and stallholders in the city."

After organising the controversial market in Princes Street Gardens since 2013 and new year celebrations since 2017, Underbelly will no longer play a part in the city's festivities. Although the firm didn't put in a fresh bid to run Edinburgh's Hogmanay, it had hoped to continue producing the Christmas market...

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