Market blow
Christmas event victim of virus
Bath’s Christmas Market will not go ahead this year due to coronavirus.
Visit Bath, which organises the event, has had advice from Public Health and decided that the traditional and hugely popular market will not be held.
Kathryn Davis (inset), chief executive of Visit Bath, said: “It is disappointing that we cannot hold the Christmas Market this year, but I hope everyone will understand the reason for this decision and the early notice we are giving.”
Yet Ms Davis went on to say it was looking to create Christmas events in the city which will support the local economy and be safe.
Dine Romero, leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said that a decision had to be taken now due to the extensive planning the market requires.
Ms Davis said: “We fully understand the value of the Bath Christmas Market to the city, but public safety and preventing the spread of Covid-19 has to come first.
“We are pro-actively working with partners across the city to create a Christmas event in Bath that will still support our local economy, but in a way that can be adapted as needed and disperses visitors across the city.”
She said that they will be creating a exciting programme of events in Bath in the four weeks in the run up to Christmas which can be delivered in a Covid-19 secure way.
She said: “So there will still be an exciting programme of events in the run-up to Christmas.
“Bath and North East Somerset
Council, Visit Bath, Bath BID and Bath Festivals are all working together to create a fourweek programme which will include dressing the city, music and entertainment, cultural events, street stalls and artisan food; all part of a Christmas celebration for residents and visitors alike and all delivered in a Covidsecure way.”
Cllr Romero added: “A great deal of planning has to go into Bath Christmas Market and so a decision had to be taken now.
“We echo the sadness that the market is not happening this year but welcome the decision to put public health and people’s safety first.
“Thanks need to go to everyone who makes it such a well-run and special festive feature.
“Our message is that Bath is still open, however Christmas will look a little different this year so we can all enjoy it safely and we hope to be back to normal next year and celebrating the 20th Christmas market.”
❝ We fully understand the value of the Bath Christmas Market to the city, but public safety and preventing the spread of Covid-19 has to come first.
Kathryn Davis