The first weekend of St Albans' first German-style Christmas Market has been a huge success, attracting more than 10,000 visitors who came into the Cathedral City to enjoy the festive celebrations, a spot of gluhwein and Christmas shopping.  Chalet-holders at the market, who are veterans of other Christmas Markets, say the St Albans market has exceeded all their expectations.

The market runs until 21 December and is the only German-style Christmas Market in Hertfordshire. The market will be a changing feast too, with new traders taking over some of the chalets at the end of the first week, so people who have already visited can return and find new chalets to browse, including Rocking Pony gifts and accessories, Drummonds Cheese, Mary-Mary Jewellery, Garden Art and Design, Benedict's Fine Furniture, Bar 63 and Christmas Create gifts and textiles.

The Mayor of St Albans City and District, Annie Brewster, opened the Christmas Market at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday evening, having been accompanied through the City to the Vintry Garden by a traditional oompha band, kitted out in lederhosen. She told the crowds: "I am extremely proud to be opening the first St Albans Christmas Market and, as I look behind me, I feel very emotional seeing how beautiful the chalets look with our floodlit Cathedral towering above them, providing such a stunning a backdrop."

Market chalet holders, many of them veterans of the UK's German-style Christmas markets, have given the newest UK Christmas market their seal of approval. Lucie Mountain from Crepe Lucette, the pancake stall in Sumpter Yard, had left another Christmas market early due to poor attendance, and at the very last minute booked a chalet at the St Albans one. She says it proved to be a good decision. "I attend lots of festivals and events throughout the year, and I have never seen queues like I had over the weekend. St Albans Christmas Market has completely exceeded my expectations. The Cathedral background is absolutely stunning and the atmosphere is so festive." She continued.

“The weekend was phenomenal," said Simon Blunt, of The City Market Co. Simon is launching his business at this Christmas Market while he looks for retail premises in the City centre so he couldn't be happier. "It has been so much busier than I imagined – manic. I have had to restock in bigger quantities and much earlier than I anticipated.

"I am so pleased that my products have been so popular," he continues.

Fiona Jackson, owner of Pollyfields, a chalet selling scented Christmas garlands, which supplies the Fortnum and Mason and Liberty stores in London, is thrilled with the business they are doing. "I am amazed we have got any stock left!" she says.  

"The first year of a new event is enough to make any trader nervous in this climate, but we needn't have worried. I have done many other Christmas Markets and this one is super, in a lovely setting and everyone seems to know about it! We were shocked and delighted with the number of people who came on Thursday evening and over the weekend. For us, the gamble has really paid off and we couldn't be more pleased with the St Albans Christmas Market, and going forward I think it can only get bigger and better!"

Some businesses in the town said they have also felt the benefit of the influx of visitors to the city. Lee Hughes, owner of Shaken Cow Milkshake Bar and Cafe on the High Street, says: "The Christmas Market has definitely created much more of a buzz around town. November is often a difficult time for shop owners, and although I haven't had a chance to look properly at the weekend's takings, I am pretty confident that I have seen an increase in customers this weekend compared to the same weekend last year. The Christmas Market can only be a good thing, as it will have a knock-on effect for the whole city."

Lesli Good, culture and heritage services manager, St Albans City and District Council, says: "We are incredibly pleased about the turnout and the support for our first German-inspired Christmas Market,

"We wanted to do the city proud with our first Christmas Market, because we are somewhat of an expert on markets, after 1,000 years of a regular street market, and so the expectations were high. We are thrilled that we have met them."

The market has 42 traditional wooden chalets selling traditional German Christmas decorations and luxury gifts for all the family, as well as the food and drink offering.

For more info, go to www.enjoystalbans.com

ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

*A traditional European-style Christmas Market, or Christkindlmarkt, such as those originating from Germany and Austria 

Christmas Market opening times:

Open daily  10am - 6pm 

10am - 8pm Thursdays