Home > Media Centre >
Why not try some 'real' Christmas shopping this year?
BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET
Thursday 30th November - Sunday 10th December 2006
Now in its sixth successful year, the Bath Christmas Market simply bursts with festive cheer. An essential fixture on any Christmas shopping calendar, this year's Market is scheduled to run from Thursday 30th November until Sunday 10th December 2006 and promises to be the best ever. Over 120 traditional wooden chalet stalls will be offering 'real' Christmas shopping with everything from fine food and drink to quality decorations, hand-crafted toys and unique gifts.
Under the stewardship of Bath Tourism Plus, a public/private sector partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bath Christmas Market annually welcomes more than 200,000 visitors from home and abroad over a 10 day trading period. With its German-style stalls festooned with lights and seasonal greenery, and the heady aromas of mulled wine, mince pies and roasting chestnuts, the Market recreates the ambience of a magical Christmas past. Strolling players, carol singers and street entertainers all add to the atmosphere of a traditional family event.
Nestling alongside Bath's medieval abbey and the Roman Baths in the very heart of this World Heritage Site, the Bath Christmas Market's emphasis is on local traders and crafts. A strict vetting process for all applicants ensures that the quality and suitability of produce for the Market reaches the very highest levels. The Market also showcases the Bath Campaign for Real Shops and celebrates the diversity of local independent retailers to be found within the City.
Robin Bischert, Chief Executive of Bath Tourism Plus, comments:
''The Bath Christmas Market is now established as a very popular attraction in Bath's calendar of events and is an important part of our plans to present Bath as a City of Festivals. The Christmas Market is effectively a Christmas Festival, with a retail mix to suit all ages, seasonal food and drink to cater to all tastes, and music and entertainment to captivate all onlookers.
'Set amidst the architectural splendour of Bath's main square, with steam rising from the thermal waters of the Roman Baths to one side and the medieval abbey's bells chiming on the other, there simply cannot be a finer setting for a Christmas market anywhere in the world''.
Subject to licensing approval the Market will open on Thursday 30th November and will close on Sunday 10th December. Trading hours will be from 10am to 7pm Monday to Wednesday; 10am to 9pm Thursday to Saturday and 11am to 7pm on Sundays.
The Market has its own dedicated website at www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk which contains details of Market opening times as well as information on the city's car parking and Park & Ride facilities. A full list of stallholders will be added in July, together with details of the entertainment programme once this has been finalised later in the year.
Coach and tour operators are strongly advised to contact the Market organisers on 01225 396417 regarding special coach parking provision, or to fill in the online form on the Bath Christmas Market website to receive updated information.
And once the shopping is finally over, this year's visitors to the Christmas Market will - for the first time ever - be able to rejuvenate their tired feet and bodies in Bath's natural thermal waters. Due to open this summer just a few hundred yards from the Roman Baths, and the site of the Bath Christmas Market, Bath's new spa, Thermae Bath Spa, will be open until 10pm, 7 days per week. What better antidote to all that Christmas shopping.
- END -
Notes to Editors:
For further information please contact Fiona Humphreys at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477228 or by email on: fiona_humphreys@bathtourism.co.uk
Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk
Bath Tourism Plus is also responsible for the organisation and management of the Bath Christmas Market www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
Thermae Bath Spa
Due to open this summer, Thermae Bath Spa revives a tradition of bathing in Bath's natural thermal waters which stretches back over 2000 years. Check the operator's website at www.thermaebathspa.com for details of the planned opening date and opening times.
Copyright © 2005 Bath Tourism Plus
