Thursday Christmas Markets in Stratford-upon-Avon

A Medieval market town is hosting a trio of market days to give people a chance to pick up unique Christmas gifts and support local businesses.

Stratford-upon-Avon will be hosting special markets in the run-up to the holidays on December 3, 10 and 17.

Running between noon and 8pm each Thursday during the month, it has been organised to provide an extra shopping opportunity for people in the town.

Each market will have a live compere playing festive music to inject a Christmassy atmosphere after a very difficult year.

There will also be animatronic reindeers, a food court in Bancroft Basin, and all the stalls will be decorated for the season.

The market will be similar to the Waterside Upmarket - which normally goes ahead on Sundays - and offers top quality products, gift ideas, treats and sweets, handcrafted items, designer jewellery, all types of artwork, wooden toys, clothing and the famous street food court.

Tadhg McGillicuddy from LSD Promotions, who is organising the event, said: "The extra shopping markets are very much focussed on giving visitors an extra shopping opportunity in the run up to the Christmas season and to support local business.

"After the year that we have all experienced, any safe opportunity for our traders to boost their income is something that is crucial we certainly will do all we can to support this and provide the trading platform. We also want to encourage the people of Stratford to use their high street this festive season and support all businesses in the town.

"We have organised for a live compere each market day to play Christmas music to add a feel good, festive atmosphere, which we believe is per the perfect tonic that people need."

The market will have a number of Covid-19 secure measures in operation including hand sanitiser stations, a 'keep left' system through the market place and the Shop Safe team will be onsite to guide and advise the public on the importance of social distancing and to keep people safe.

These measures have been in place since LSD Promotions brought the markets back to Stratford in June.

Cllr Ian Shenton, portfolio holder for at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "We are pleased to working with LSD Promotions to be offering these extra markets as a way for people to find something gifts that are unique and different.

"Just to reassure everyone, these markets will be held in a Covid-secure way with a number of measures in place to protect the health and safety of visitors.

"We look forward to be welcoming everyone along to see all the fantastic things on offer."