Two groups confirm plans to stage Christmas market in Berwick
JUST days after it appeared Berwick would not have a Christmas market this year, it now looks like it will have two.
A new group has been formed to stage a festive market in Marygate on December 8.
It has no connection to the Dickensian Market which has been run by the Berwick Events Group for the past five years.
Cafe owner Dawn Smith formed MAD Events alongside entertainment and catering specialists Matthew Leiper and Alan Malone to ensure a pre-Christmas market was held in the town.
Dawn, who runs the Townhouse at Berwick Town Hall, explained: “We knew there was talk of the Dickensian Market’s organising committee standing down so we wanted to do something to ensure there was something in place.
“We have now received permission from Northumberland County Council to hold the event on December 8 which we hope will be welcome news for shops and stalls in the town centre.”
All profits from the event will go to Berwick and District Cancer Support Group.
It will run in a similar vein to the Dickensian Market with stallholders lining the street.
“We’re anticipating in excess of 50 stalls in the town and they will be a mixture of regular market traders and Christmas stallholders,” said Dawn.
There will also be children’s entertainment, live music, a fun fair and hot food. Local schools will be asked to participate in carol singing.
Ironically, the Dickensian Market organisers have received offers of help following their last ditch appeal in last week’s Advertiser and also plan to stage their event.
Viv Robson said: “Thanks to the support we received after last week’s front page story we are now in a position where we will still have a Dickensian Market.
“We know about the new group’s plans but still feel there is a place for the Dickensian Market, though at this stage we don’t know what date it will be held. Given where we were a week ago, it’s far better to have two events taking place.”
One of those who stepped up, Jessica Spencer-Barry, said: “We want to ensure the Dickensian Market continues to function as a viable event which attracts people into the town.”
An extraordinary AGM will take place on April 8 at 5.30pm at The Cobbled Yard Hotel, Walkergate to discuss the plans further.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
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