The frustrating reasons fans are boycotting Christmas markets revealed
- Nine million people are expected to visit Manchester Xmas Market this year
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They're designed to leave visitors feeling full of festive cheer - but if anything, this year's underwhelming Christmas markets have turned the UK into a nation of Scrooges.
In the past two weeks, hundreds of festive stalls have popped up in cities all over the UK - from Dickensian-inspired shops in Belfast to wintery chalets in Bath.
But rather than bringing people together at Christmas, these markets - with their overpriced food and 'tatty' gifts - have been tearing local communities apart.
Earlier this week, TikTok user Rubie went viral when she shared a video of the huge crowds at Manchester Christmas market, which is expected to attract nine million tourists this year, eager to pay £8 for pints and £10 for cheesy chips and gravy.
Filming herself in the centre of a mass of people, Rubie sarcastically wrote: 'Come to Manchester Christmas Market, they said. It'll be fun, they said.'
'Hell on earth at a weekend,' one viewer commented. 'You couldn't drag me to these nowadays,' another added.
However, Manchester isn't the only city being criticised for its Christmas market - as other social media users have also threatened to 'boycott' their local pop-ups in York and Birmingham.
Here FEMAIL delves into how the tide is turning on the once beloved Christmas tradition.
Pictured: a £10 tub of cheesy chips with gravy on sale at Manchester Christmas market, which were given a '0/10' rating by TikToker Dem
In Belfast, the market also has a 'Viking drinking horn' stand (pictured) - where prices start from £15
'Overpriced' food
When Manchester Christmas market returned earlier this month, TikTok user Dem was among one of the first to visit the attraction.
In her review video, the aspiring chef expressed regret for having parted with a tenner for a tub of cheesy chips and gravy.
Giving it a 0/10 rating, she wrote: 'Don't know why I bought this for £10.'
Meanwhile, Maja Klys revealed in her video that pints cost £8 - although revellers can get a £2 refund if they return their reusable plastic cup.
Other pricey items on offer include £1.50 marshmallows and £9 for a roll with apple sauce.
Last week, TikToker Eating with Tod ventured to the market, which is free to visit, to film one of his viral reviews.
But while the social media star, who has 640,000 followers, was impressed with the food on offer, viewers were stunned that a box of four dumplings was £8.
While he branded the dumplings with curry sauce and chilli sauce 'delicious', viewers said '£8 for 4 gyoza is crazy talk.'
Maja Klys revealed in her video that pints cost £8 - although revellers can get a £2 refund if they return their reusable plastic cup.
TikToker Eating with Tod ventured to the market, which is free to visit, to film one of his viral reviews. Pictured posing with £8 dumplings
TikToker Angelina (pictured) - who boasts 261,000 followers on the platform - visited Kingston Christmas market, where she tried a viral Yorkshire pudding burrito
Another joked: 'Did you have to remortgage your house before you went??'
Earlier this week, TikToker Angelina - who boasts 261,000 followers on the platform - visited Kingston Christmas market, where she tried a viral Yorkshire pudding burrito.
After being served by 'rude' staff, the social media star admitted she was disappointed that the £10 snack didn't come with more trimmings.
She said: 'It did only have turkey, apple sauce and gravy in it. All for £10, yeah? 5.2 out of 10.'
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.'
Pictured: Birmingham Christmas market, where visitors can pay £9 for a hot dog or £4.50 for a bag of roasted almonds
Kristina from Hereford eating a half-a-meter long Bratwurst sausage at Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market
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.'
'Selling overpriced tat'
However, the food prices aren't the only thing Christmas market visitors have been up in arms about of late.
On top of this, former fans have moaned about the 'tat' on sale in markets across the UK.
Speaking to The Guardian, Beatrice Douzjian - who runs the Ju Ju cafe in Birmingham - 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, said she would prefer to see 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.'
In Belfast, visitors have shared some of the products available to purchase on TikTok - including a £14 'Just a Girl' meme mug. A similar version is half the price on Amazon.
In Belfast, visitors have shared some of the products available to purchase on TikTok - including a £14 'Just a Girl' meme mug
What's more, the market also has a 'Viking drinking horn' stand - where prices start from £15.
Blasting UK Christmas markets, X user Rich added: 'Our Christmas market is pathetic.
'10 or 15 stalls selling overpriced tat and it closes 10 days before Christmas.'
Crowding issues
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
That said, the cost of buying anything at a UK Christmas market isn't the only thing that is putting off visitors.
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.
After visiting Manchester's Christmas market this weekend, TikToker Asiyah joked that she 'went through hell' to leave
Filming herself in the centre of a mass of people, TikToker Rubie sarcastically wrote: 'Come to Manchester Christmas Market, they said. It'll be fun, they said.'
After visiting Manchester's Christmas market this weekend, TikToker Asiyah joked that she 'went through hell' to leave.
Sharing a video of the masses of people there, she said in her video: '[Point of view]: You made the biggest mistake going to Manchester Xmas Markets on a Saturday.'
A fellow visitor commented: 'We was [sic] stuck in traffic for over an hour, never again.'
Another added: 'I was trying to get to Victoria station after uni yesterday evening and it was absolutely hell, I physically couldn't move anywhere at one point.'
A third said: 'TikTok did this loool.'
