Demands for "rethink" over Newcastle's Christmas Markets
Hospitality firms near the markets say the market is “increasingly seen as generic and disconnected from Newcastle’s identity”
A group of city centre traders have demanded a “rethink” of Newcastle’s Christmas Markets, after accusations that they are hurting neighbouring businesses.
The NE1 Hospitality Group, an alliance of food, drink, and leisure venues, has claimed that the festive attraction is “increasingly seen as generic and disconnected from Newcastle’s identity” and was competing directly with existing businesses.
The criticism comes after the Priory Press cafe in Nelson Street complained recently that it had been blocked off by Christmas market stalls.
City council officials replied that 84% of traders at this year’s “unique” markets come from within 20 miles of Newcastle and that shoppers spend an average £3.30 in other city businesses for every £1 spent at the markets.
The NE1 Hospitality Group, which counts major operators like the Vaulkhard Group and Ladhar Group among its members, has been at loggerheads with the local authority and has now moved to appoint Nick Kemp as its new head – the former council leader who has now become an outspoken critic of the city’s management.
It had previously announced this summer that it was mounting a legal battle against the council over its extension of the St James’ Park Stack’s planning permission to 2031, alleging that it “threatens the future of Newcastle’s traditional hospitality scene”.
Calling the Christmas markets a “missed opportunity”, a spokesperson for the group said this week: “Newcastle deserves a Christmas Market that feels like it belongs to the city — one that strengthens local businesses and reflects our identity. The current approach lacks imagination, transparency, and alignment with the city’s own stated priorities. It can and should be better.”
They added: “Reactive measures, such as offering displaced businesses a chalet or promoting them on NE1’s channels, do not address the fundamental issue: decisions are being made without prior engagement with those most affected. A headline figure of £96 million economic impact does not tell us who actually benefits — and independent traders consistently report reduced footfall during the Christmas Market period.”
They called for a “full review” of the Christmas Markets’ design and promises to engage with local traders.
A city council spokesperson replied that the annual attraction was “improving and bringing more money into the city” every year and that Newcastle “needs a distinctive and credible Christmas market to both attract visitors and support the local economy”.
They said: “Traders on this year’s market are mainly (84%) drawn from a 20-mile radius of the city centre, with the majority of others from across the region. All are hand selected for quality and variety, with many producing bespoke, locally produced products to help celebrate and support local producers, makers, artists, and hospitality businesses.
“We have also added a small number of recognised local brands this year, including For the Love of the North, BALTIC Shop and Fenwick, further improving our commitment to a carefully curated, local and high-quality offer, rather than being generic and disconnected from Newcastle’s identity, as claimed.
“This year we have extended the market along Nelson Street to ensure the Grainger Market is directly connected to the event, and there are nine Grainger Market traders also trading on the Christmas market. Next year when the improvement works to the Grainger Market are complete, we look forward to interlinking the two markets further.
“Over recent years the Christmas market has brought hundreds of thousands of extra people into Newcastle. Last year there were 1.76 million visits to the market, a 28% increase on 2023, with the additional spend generated by the event calculated at £90.6 million, a substantial 60% increase on the £56.8 million figure from the previous year.”
Coun Kemp’s appointment to lead the NE1 Hospitality Group was confirmed this week.
He was the local authority’s leader between 2022 and 2024, before stepping down last year in the wake of a bullying complaint from a senior director. The Byker councillor has since been cleared of breaching the council’s code of conduct, following a lengthy investigation.
Coun Kemp, who quit the Labour Party a year ago and now represents the East End and Associates Independents, said: “Hospitality is the lifeblood of our city. I’m proud to take on this role and excited about what we can achieve together.”
The NE1 Hospitality Group called him “the ideal leader to unite and represent our vibrant hospitality community”.