Chester Christmas Market compared to Manchester's - is it really better?

Manchester's iconic Christmas Markets could return even bigger in 2024, with more stalls anticipated to sprawl across the city. However, Manchester faces stiff competition as numerous large cities now boast their own festive wooden hut spectacles.

Which? magazine recently announced its top UK Christmas markets for this winter season, and Manchester was notably absent from the list. Chester, on the other hand, secured its spot in the top eight - suggesting it might be beginning to provide a less busy, more enjoyable experience to those in the North West.

So, with children in tow, I ventured to Chester Christmas Market to understand why it's been lauded as "better" than Manchester by various headlines over the past week.

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The Which? survey praised Chester as the destination for those seeking "a peaceful festive day out" a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of Manchester's Christmas Markets.

Chester narrowly missed out on the top spot to Bath in the study, but it was commended for its accessibility, parking facilities, and relaxed crowd levels.

Thus, I set off to Chester to evaluate its navigability. Upon arrival, I found that parking is indeed convenient, with two multi-storey car parks located a short stroll from the Chester Christmas Market.

I accidentally bypassed the turn for the gleaming new New Market multi-storey, and instead found myself in the somewhat shabbier "old" Trinity car park beneath the Crowne Plaza hotel. However, I managed to find a parking spot, so I can't grumble.

From there, it was a brief stroll over to Northgate Street to locate the market.

The market stalls are conveniently arranged along a single street, eliminating the need to roam around searching for different "zones" as you would in Manchester. The first thing that struck me was its resemblance to Manchester's Christmas Market at its peak (when it was located on Albert Square), as Chester's Christmas Market is beautifully set against the backdrop of the imposing gothic town hall on Northgate Street.

Chester's rich history is evident in the patchwork of black and white buildings on either side of the market, which is situated opposite the majestic Chester Cathedral. The market is tucked away at the end of one of the main shopping streets, making it easy to incorporate into a full day out exploring the city's historic Rows and cobbled streets.

I was instantly taken aback by the festive atmosphere of the market, enhanced by strings of fairy lights draped across the stalls, and fir trees and baubles adorning the roofs of the wooden stalls. A giant Christmas tree stood at the centre of it all, creating a truly picturesque scene.

With 70 stalls, this Christmas Market is significantly smaller than Manchester's offering of 240 stalls.

Over on our Facebook comments section, many have voiced their annoyance about Manchester's Christmas markets having "too many food and drink stalls and not enough gifts". Contrary to that sentiment, Chester might just offer the perfect alternative with its gift-laden displays.

The market here leans heavily towards gifting options as opposed to an oversaturation of hot food and beverage outlets. With a strong emphasis on local craft-makers, you're sure to stumble across some truly unique presents.

I was particularly taken with one stall that sold vividly coloured fabric toys and letters for Christmas tree adornment. My children were also captivated by a stall overflowing with Viking horns, and theres no missing the novel experiences like adopting a porcelain ghost or the Chester Zoo stand with its assortment of plush wildlife replicas.

Gift-seekers will be delighted to find a myriad of offerings from alcoholic treats and cheeses to exquisite jewellery, festive decorations, and mouth-watering flavoured fudges and macarons.

When we reached the bustling heart of the market encircling the Christmas tree, we encountered the central hot food and drink section. Here, we opted to indulge in some of the offerings.

It was at this point that I found Chester shared a common trait with Manchestersteep prices for drinks and sausages certainly raised some eyebrows.

It almost appears as though there has been an unofficial agreement among market vendors nationwide to uniformly price outdoor-served sausage buns at £8; a rate that seems to have been universally adopted, whether at garden centres, Christmas markets or light trails.

Regrettably, I spent £8 on a rather large Cumberland sausage. However, the weather worsened, revealing another downside to Chester - a lack of undercover areas to protect yourself (and your expensive food).

This resulted in a soggy and unappetising sausage and bun by the time it had cooled down enough to eat, and I was not impressed with the taste.

On the other hand, my children were thrilled when they saw the sweet treat stalls. My eldest son indulged in mini Dutch pancakes with chocolate sauce, which cost £7, a pound more than in Manchester.

My youngest son opted for chocolate-dipped strawberries, which he thoroughly enjoyed. These cost £7 in Chester, while the same can be purchased in Manchester for £6.50.

In the midst of the rain, I felt the need to console myself, so I headed to the hot drinks stand where I was shocked at the price of a Baileys hot chocolate at £7.50. This is £1 more than most of the stalls at Manchester Christmas Markets that sell this.

Chester also lacks a Christmas mugware or glass deposit scheme - so your mulled wine or hot chocolates are served in a less festive paper cup. It made me miss Manchester's adorable cartoon mugs, to be honest.

The Chester Christmas Market boasts a central bar cosily situated under cover, the Chester Christmas Market Bar, adjacent to the Cathedral wall within a festive bauble-adorned tent. Here, mulled wine is on offer for £5.50, aligning with Manchester's prices, but pints will set you back £6.50 a slight rise of 50p compared to their neighbour.

Prosecco lovers must shell out £7 per glass, spotting an increase of 50p above what most stalls charge in Manchester.

Seeking respite from the elements momentarily in a doorway, it didn't quite offer suitable refuge for families, leaving a wish for more covered spaces for patrons consuming food and beverages. The children did relish their meals, however, other than the variety of stalls, entertainment options for younger attendees seemed lacking.

There is said to be a Santa's Grotto hidden somewhere (as noted on the map), though our search was futile. As fate would have it, we ended up hastily seeking shelter from the relentless downpour rather than a jolly man in red.

Efforts were made to snap a joyful photo of the kids against a sizeable bauble-festooned backdrop, aiming for a fond holiday keepsake, yet it proved less successful with them shrinking away in the rain.

Notably quieter, as pointed out by Which?, this marketplace offers a "peaceful" atmosphere without the typical throngs one expects at Manchester's Christmas Market over the weekends. Its layout further provides ease in navigation with all the stalls arrayed along one street, eliminating any fear of missing out on hidden gems.

I'm sure we'd have had a much better day if the weather wasn't quite as bad, but I did leave Chester with the feeling that I was paying a lot more than I do in Manchester - for not really that much more of an experience.

If you're going to a Christmas Markets for gifts though you may well prefer the more initimate experience of Chester over Manchester with a good selection of quirky gift stalls. And it does look lovely with the backdrop of the Town Hall.

But if you're planning on partaking of a few festive drinks and some food, I'd probably stick to Manchester if you're wanting a cheaper option.

How much is food and drink?

Here's a full breakdown of the food and drink prices we saw on the day at Chester Christmas Market.

Food.

Churros - £6 standard, £12 for family size.

Coconut macaroons - 1 for £2, 4 for £6, 8 for £10.

Classic beef burger - £8.

Traditional cumberland sausage in a bun- £8.

Mini Dutch pancakes - £6 with sugar, £7 with sauce.

Chicken/Doner Gyros - £12.

Halloumi fries - £10.

Pork roll - £9.

Beef Brisket bap - £10.

Roast potatoes - £5.50.

Pork Scratchings - £4.50.

Chicken noodles - £9.

Jacket potatoes £5 - £7 depending on fillings.

Drinks.

Mulled wine £5.50 regular, £8 large.

Mulled wine with dash of rum - £8 regular, £10.50 large.

Mulled gin - £6.50 small, £8.50 large.

Baileys Hot Chocolate - £7.50.

Classic Hot Chocolate - £5.

Water/soft drink £2.

Pint of Lager/Ale - £6.50, half pint £3.50.

Bottled cider - £6.50.

Prosecco £7 glass, £28 bottleWine £8 glass, £24 bottle.

Gins and rums - £7 single, £9.50 double.

What are the times and dates that it is open?

Chester Christmas Market is now open daily until Sunday December 22, 2024.

The opening times of the stalls are:-.

Monday - Wednesday 10:30 -18:30.

Thursday - Saturday 10:30 - 20:00.

Sunday 10:30 -18:30.

How to get there.

Chester Christmas Market is at Town Hall Square, on Northgate Street in Chester. The nearest car park is the New Market multi-storey on Hunter Street.

The city centre is also well-served by park and ride schemes, which can be found on the edge of the city at Upton (at Chester Zoo), Boughton Heath, Sealand Road and Wrexham Road.

Chester Train Station is around a 20 minute walk away from the Christmas Market.