Before they were famous for selling boozy hot chocolates and viral Yorkshire pudding burritos, Christmas markets were once a great place to find unique gifts in the UK.
But in recent years, it seems independent sellers have moved on from the festive stall circuit – thereby making way for those selling ‘overpriced tat’ that can easily be found on Amazon, Shein, Temu and Etsy.
Last week, Belfast‘s Christmas market opened up in the city centre again – with one stall flogging potential Christmas gifts for an eye-watering mark-up.
Along with a £14 ‘Just a Girl’ hamster meme mug, which retails for £5 on Shein, the small business was also selling some illustrated reusable Starbucks cups for a staggering £20.
Meanwhile, TikTok users have also spotted near identical garlic grater plates on sale at Bristol and York Christmas markets – when they can be sourced for half the price online.
Earlier this week, Birmingham residents complained about the effect the city’s Christmas market is having on local business – despite some of the stalls appearing to be selling incredibly similar products.
Speaking to The Guardian, Beatrice Douzjian – who runs the Ju Ju cafe – explained: ‘As soon as it starts, we notice there’s a lull in business.
‘It pulls trade away from small independents like ourselves but it doesn’t offer value for customers, with the same tat being sold across the market for extortionate prices.’
Meanwhile, Hannah, 36, agreed she would prefer to see a greater variety of products on sale.
The local woman added: ‘If every stand was its own independent stall, it would be better, but they just all sell the same stuff. It’s overpriced tat, but it’s fun overpriced tat I suppose.’
Here FEMAIL reveals how Christmas market vendors are making a fortune selling ‘tat’ that looks suspiciously like things you can find on the internet.
Liverpool – £5.50 mark-up on Christmas decorations
Last week, Liverpool Christmas market, which has been running for the past 18 years, opened its doors again.
In 2023, over 750,000 visitors flocked to the festive market – and its proving to be equally as popular this time round.
TikTok user Lauren was among the first guests to return to the market and filmed a video browsing some of the Christmas tree decorations on sale.
In her video, the social media user paused to take a look at some personalised 2D wooden baubles, which retail for £7 each.
On Etsy, an incredibly similar design – which can also be personalised – can be ordered for £1.50 and remains one of the online marketplace’s best-sellers.
Lauren captioned the post: ‘Only in the Liverpool Christmas markets!’
Bath: Paper lanterns £13 more expensive than Temu
Although the Bath Christmas market doesn’t open until later this week, their official social media accounts have shared glimpses of the returning stalls – including one selling star-shaped paper lanterns.
The ornaments are sold for £15 in Bath – but similar designs can be found on Temu for as little as £2.
Giving the market one star out of five last year, one TripAdvisor user wrote: ‘The items for sale (if you could actually access the sheds) were generally very expensive.
‘The impression gained is that Bath is not a big enough location to host this type of tourist attraction.’
After the lanterns appeared in a TikTok yesterday, one local commented: ‘As someone who lives in Bath I can’t go out on weekends bc the whole centre is gridlocked with people coming from everywhere to the Christmas market.’
Another added: ‘It’s so crowded you can’t move or actually see any of the stalls.’
Belfast: £15 TikTok meme mug that can be bought for a fiver on Shein
In Belfast, one stall appears to be making a killing selling items you can buy on Amazon and Etsy for an inflated price point.
Earlier this week, the TikTok user Northern Ireland Traveller posted a tour of the Belfast Christmas market – which ended with footage of the stall selling slippers, key chains, mugs and Starbucks cups.
Among the items on sale are a pair of £23 pink monogrammed slippers. A near identical pair – with a seam running down the middle – can be purchased on Etsy for £16.
On top of this, the stall – which is also selling a £14 hamster mug based on a TikTok meme – is flogging illustrated Starbucks cups for £20.
Again, almost identical designs can be purchased on Etsy for £9.99.
What’s more, the stall has also capitalised on the popular ‘Just a Girl’ TikTok meme by putting the ‘sad hamster’ illustration on a mug, which they’re selling for £14.
On Shein, shoppers can pick up the same version – complete with matching text and baby pink inside – for £5 on Shein.
Edinburgh: Pricey chalet ornaments that appear in other markets
Meanwhile, TikToker Dave Mani showcased how Edinburgh Christmas market also has a stall selling chalet ornaments of varying sizes – just like Belfast and York’s.
In Edinburgh, the cheapest ornament appears to be around the £27 mark. In contrast, a very similar version of the Christmas chalet is only £13 on Amazon.
Writing on TripAdvisor, one Edinburgh local moaned the market has changed beyond all recognition.
They wrote: ‘I’ve lived in Edinburgh all my life (30 years) and the Christmas market used to be one of my favourite events of the year in Edinburgh, it was truly magical and so much fun right through until my early 20’s.
‘In the last 5-10 years it’s changed a lot, much more expensive, the stalls feel less independent and more tat and the main issue is the crowds. Makes it honestly unbearable to visit, you queue for 20 minutes for 1 cup of overpriced mulled wine and don’t bother with any of the rides because you’ll wait all day to get on.’
In the past few weeks, people have been sharing videos of the overwhelming crowds that have gathered in city centres for the festivities.
On Sunday, TikToker Rachel shared a video of her walk into York when she found herself in the hoards of people trying to get to the market.
She wrote: ‘Every year, I make the mistake of going into York centre on a Saturday in Xmas season.’
‘Literally forget how stressful it is every year,’ she added in the caption.
One viewer replied: ‘I simply do not go into town on weekends once the markets start. Weekdays and evenings only.’
‘I live in York,’ another added. ‘This time of year is a nightmare.’ ‘Imagine trying to get to work on time and having to walk through that,’ a third said.
Social media users have also threatened to ‘boycott’ their local markets in York and Birmingham.
Last week, York Christmas Market returned to the city centre again – but locals were up in arms about some of the prices.
During a visit, X user Jack spotted a stall serving steak and chips for £14 – while a single portion of chips with a sauce was £7.
He fumed: ‘Christmas markets need to be stopped. It’s a shameless money grab from families (usually) and there’s f**k all traditional about it anyway!”
But Jack isn’t the only former Christmas market fan who is now pledging to boycott them entirely over the food prices.
Earlier this week, X user Alice fumed: ‘I never want to go to a Christmas market in the UK. Stand around a grotty high street and pay £10 for a cup of lukewarm wine? No thank you.’
Meanwhile, Birmingham Christmas market – which has enforced a one-beer rule for visitors – was slammed earlier this month for their ‘rip-off’ £9 hot dog and £4.50 bag of almonds.
John Beard, 35, from Birmingham, said: ‘This will be the first time in ten years I’m not going to bother [going].
‘It’s a combination of the rip-off prices and that one beer rule is just daft. You can queue for half hour there easily so sometimes you want to double up.
‘People are watching the pennies more than ever and don’t want to spend nearly a tenner on a sausage. You can blow about £50 in ten minutes.’
