Devastating loss for us, says cheese firm boss

One Bath Christmas market stall holder has said it is a “tragedy” that the 2020 market is cancelled due to coronavirus.

Visit Bath, which organises the market, said that the traditional market is cancelled and a number of smaller events will take place instead.

Bath Soft Cheese managing director Hugh Padfield said that his business relies on the Christmas trade and that 20 per cent of his annual earnings are from the market - calling its cancellation a “tragedy”.

Mr Padfield said: “Christmas is our most important period of the year.

“Christmas makes up a sixth of our annual cheese sales - about 20 per cent of that is through our stall at Bath Christmas market.

“It is crucial in terms of the whole business being profitable for the entire year.

“Much of the year’s production is sold at Christmas.”

Mr Padfield went on to explain that the stall sees many returning customers after people discover them at the market.

He said: “It’s not just local sales the Bath Christmas market brings in customers from all over the country.

“Many customers come back year after year saying that they love our cheese and they always look for us at the Christmas market.

“We do our best to provide a beautiful stall each year and in 2018 were runners-up for the best dressed stall.”

Instead of the market Bath Soft Cheese is now promoting its online store to try to offset the impact.

Mr Padfield said: “We are going to make a huge effort to promote our online sales in the hope that this way we can get our cheese to those same customers.

“We hoped that the epidemic would be over before November that would have been so beneficial for our business.

“We also attend the Mary Howard Christmas Fair and this has been cancelled.

“These Christmas markets are happy festive experiences for the whole family.

“It’s a tragedy that it can’t take place.

“We just hope a vaccine can be released soon so that more important events aren’t cancelled.”

Visit Bath said it is planning on doing a number of other events in the run-up to Christmas that could be Covid-19 secure.

So far reaction has applauded its decision for public health reasons yet many are concerned about the effect on local economy.