PIONEERING German market stall workers voiced their support of another increase in the size of Manchester Christmas Markets after they opened last week.
The Christmas Markets, which began in 1999 with only a few German stalls in St Ann’s Square, have now expanded to accommodate a range of cultures with stalls from all over Europe and beyond.
German traders are now welcoming this year’s new addition of a French Market on King Street, which will be the eighth site, over a decade after proving the idea could be a success for the first time.
Alex Zander, who runs Cologne-based German sweet sellers, Ponzoni-Zander, said: “We have been part of the markets from the start and it’s getting better each year.
“It is good that they are bringing more variety to the market but this area is still all German and it has spread its wings. This is a cosmopolitan market now but the German market is the mainstay.”
The German section of the market includes a Christmas-themed wooden lodge selling ‘Fine German Glühwein & Beer’ along with stalls offering herbal sweets, jewellery, meat, toys and mulled wine.
Daniel Mende, who works on a wooden toy stall in the German Market, said: “Competition is maybe not always great for individual stalls but if it’s bringing more people into the city it is a good thing.”
When Frankfurt-based traders first came over to put on the stalls 11 years ago, only the St Ann’s Square site had any stalls whatsoever, whereas now there are hundreds of stalls on market sites all over the city.
“Every year it gets bigger and bigger and more complicated,” said Ramy Tamam, who sells traditional German salami at the Farm Shop stall in St Ann’s Square.
“It’s good to bring people here and good for Manchester. Mancunians welcome different cultures and the Germans feel more niche, every section of the markets have their own niche.”
This year there will be more than 250 trees and 330 lamp-posts decorated and 28 across-street displays using a total of almost 400,000 low-energy bulbs, adding to Manchester’s Christmassy feel.
Manchester’s German Christmas Markets are open in St Ann’s Square until December 22nd every day from 10a.m. to 7-30p.m. and until 8p.m. in December, with the bar areas open for an additional hour in the evenings.
Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “With so much to see and do right across the city centre, it's no wonder we're people's number one choice for Christmas shopping and festivities."
He added that this year’s Christmas Markets promise to be the best yet as activities across the city appeal to more and more people.
A survey commissioned by Manchester Markets has shown that last year’s Christmas Markets brought around £49.9million into our economy, attracting 1.3million visitors to the city in the process.
Manchester Christmas Market traders employed 1,246 people over the trading period in 2009, with more than half of those positions filled by Mancunians.
German tourist Alfons Görgen, from Trier, visited the German Market for the first time last week.
He said: “This is a really good thing for Manchester, it is the same as Germany but with more attractions.”
For more information on Manchester’s Christmas Markets contact www.visitmanchester.com.
Also published on www.mancunianmatters.co.uk
http://mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/manchesters-christmas-german-market-stalls-say-more-merrier
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