Gardens ‘the best home for Markets’
OUR POLL SHOWS WHERE READERS WANT IT TO GO FOR FOUR-YEAR SQUARE CLOSURE
MANCHESTER Christmas Markets need a new home for the next four years - and you’ve told us where you want them to go.
Albert Square has hosted the Markets for the last 20 years but due to a £13m revamp of the Town Hall, the main market now needs to be based elsewhere.
The council’s city centre spokesman Pat Karney subsequently urged M.E.N. readers to come up with their own suggestions.
So, naturally, we ran a poll, asking your opinion on where they should go. And this is what you said... 1. Piccadilly Gardens 40% of you chose the green space located between Market Street and Northern Quarter as a top choice location for the markets. 2. Castlefield Bowl The outdoor event pavilion located just off of Deansgate was the second most popular choice among readers, with 13% off votes. This year, the bowl has already hosted a variety of events, including a special screening of England’s World Cup game against Sweden. 3. Cathedral Gardens Already home to an ice rink and other sections of the Christmas Markets, 13% of you think the main site could be moved to the open space behind The Printworks. 4. Spinningfields Also joint second is the city’s financial centre which is already popular for its range of bars and restaurants. Already home to the Oast House winter tepees, 13% think the Markets main base could move here. 5. St Ann’s Square First home to the Christmas Markets when they opened, 13% of readers believe the markets should move back to their original home. 6. Chock-a-block Regent Road Surprisingly, only 5% of you chose the site of the chaos-ridden roadworks at the site of Regent Road. 7. First Street Located opposite Deansgate tram stop and the site of Home, only 3% of readers chose First Street as a viable relocation.
We noticed a few proposals to host the Markets at rival football grounds.
Mark Farrell wrote: “Car park at United. Plenty of tourists and they would sell more half/half Xmas scarfs. Better than watching the dross football on offer.” Whilst Gareth Dean believes there is “plenty of room” at City’s ground, the Etihad.
But some believe the answer to the conundrum is to get rid of them altogether.
The council’s final decision will be announced in the New Year.