The festive lights have dimmed and the wooden chalets are being packed away as Manchester's renowned Christmas Markets have officially closed for another year. The 2025 edition, which ran for nearly seven weeks, has left the city's traders with sharply contrasting tales of festive fortune.
A Festive Season of Contrasts for Stallholders
This year's markets, a staple since 1998, saw over 270 stalls spread across ten central locations, including St Ann's Square, Piccadilly Gardens, and King Street. A key change for 2025 was the return of Albert Square, which hosted 'A Taste of Christmas' alongside a large Ferris wheel. While Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, home to the ice rink, will stay open until Sunday, 4 January, the other eight sites closed on the evening of Monday, 22 December.
For veteran stallholder Gareth Kitching of Porky's Grill, this year was the "worst Christmas markets" his business has seen in two decades. Operating pitches in Piccadilly Gardens, Albert Square, and Exchange Square, he cited market "over-catering" and similar stalls clustering together as key issues. He reported making just enough to cover his rent.
Kitching also highlighted a significant drop in consumer spending power. "Everybody's a bit wary of the way the world is right now," he observed, noting families now often share a single item where they once bought individually. Other vendors echoed this, with some unable to meet their rental costs, and speculation that several closed early on Sunday 21st to avoid further losses.
Success Stories Amid the Challenges
However, the picture was far from universally gloomy. For many traders, 2025 proved a resounding success. Miki Christi, who runs The Manchester Shop at St Ann's Square, was full of enthusiasm, praising the area's beautiful vibe and highlighting visits from international tourists from Italy, Spain, and Dubai.
Similarly, Sunny, managing the Greek Street Food stall at Cathedral Gardens, reported a very good year. "This is the first year where we've had three stalls," he said. "All of them have been very busy... It's been very good for us." His success at Exchange Square and Cathedral Gardens was complemented by a new, busy pitch at Albert Square.
Looking Ahead to New Year Celebrations
As the main markets wind down, Manchester is already preparing for its next celebration. The council has announced New Year's Eve festivities will be held across two historic squares for the first time.
St Peter's Square will host a major, alcohol-free fireworks and light spectacular from 10pm, with a DJ-led countdown to midnight. Meanwhile, Albert Square will keep the festive fun going with its Ferris wheel and a selection of food and drink vendors from the Christmas markets, though it will not have its own fireworks display.
