Overview
- Both markets launched on Saturday, with Liverpool opening at 11am on St George’s Plateau and Newcastle holding a ribbon‑cutting as stalls spread across Monument, Grey Street, Grainger Street, Old Eldon Square and the new Nelson Street site.
- Wet, breezy conditions linked to Storm Claudia framed opening day, as the Met Office flagged drizzle and Liverpool City Council cancelled grass‑pitch sports to protect playing surfaces.
- Price lists were published for visitors, including Liverpool bar prices showing pints and classic mulled wine at £6.50, while ChronicleLive compiled full food and drink pricing across Newcastle’s five zones.
- Liverpool’s headline draw was a Spud Man x John The Spud baked‑potato stall that quickly saw a queue of around 40 within 45 minutes of opening, with toppings ranging from £6 for plain to £12 for pulled pork.
- Newcastle emphasised local traders at roughly 80–84% and introduced new features such as a first‑time Silent Disco (Friday evenings and weekend daytime), the Mallow & Mulled pop‑up on Nelson Street and a 15‑metre Ferris wheel, with Moosenwirt and some rides running to January 1.