YORK city centre has been enjoying its busiest Christmas in years – and a new “festive fair” was launched today in a bid to keep the streets busy throughout December.
City-centre manager Paul Barrett says the number of pedestrians passing through Parliament Street and Coney Street during last weekend’s St Nicholas Fayre soared from 296,000 in 2009 to 385,000 this year.
The four-day event, which attracted coachloads of shoppers from all over the country, led to Parliament Street becoming particularly busy this year, with footfall up by 15 per cent on last year.
Mr Barrett said the statistics, provided by cameras positioned in the two streets to monitor each person passing by, were “encouraging”, given the current economic climate. “York was bustling last weekend and people seemed to be spending too; many of the St Nicholas Fayre traders reported very good sales,” he said.
“This weekend sees the opening of our inaugural York Festive Fayre Christmas market and the Festive Inne, which runs until December 18 in Parliament Street.
“We are optimistic of further high footfall and good turnover with this latest city centre retail attraction too.”
Tourism chiefs claimed in the autumn that York was now the most “Christmassy” city in the UK after plans for the festive fair were announced.
The event, based in Parliament Street, features 40 custom-built seasonal huts selling crafts and foods, accompanied by “gentle festive music.”
Winter Pimms, hot punch and beer are also being sold in an “olde festive inne” in a marquee which has been set up in the street on the other side of the fountain.
In nearby St Sampson’s Square, there is a Made In Yorkshire Christmas market selling ceramics, textiles, paintings, woodwork, pottery.
Finishing touches were being applied to the fair yesterday, prior to its opening today.
Let’s have some fun
WE’RE clearly determined to enjoy ourselves this Christmas, recession or no.
The city centre was bursting at the seams for the St Nicholas Fayre last weekend. Many stallholders reported good sales, and it provided a welcome boost for hard-pressed city-centre retailers. Hopefully the new York Festive Fayre which opens this weekend will see that continue in the run-up to Christmas. Let’s face it, we all need an excuse to have fun.
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