Sheffield Christmas market is ‘not quite there yet’

This year's Christmas market, which has occupied Fargate in Sheffield city centre for the past two weeks, has received mixed reviews. 

After a boom in sales at the Christmas Light Switch-On, traders at the market have felt a dramatic drop in business as the event has gone on. From the 22 stalls available for hire this year, there are still two cabins unused and boarded up.

General information

• Sheffield Christmas market will be open until 24th December
• The market is open daily from 10am to 6pm (8pm on Wednesdays)
• This year's market includes a Moroccan market where you can find handmade goods from Marrakesh

With the market taking place on Sheffield's main high street, the traders have shared the traffic with the chain stores, but there is concern among the cabins that people are browsing, but not buying.

Fayaz Khan runs a jewellery and accessory cabin, which he has taken to Manchester and Birmingham Christmas markets in the past. Fayaz understands that Sheffield city centre is a smaller space than that of Manchester and Birmingham, but the lack of shoppers is causing concern. “Tryers are putting the hats on and looking in the mirror, but aren't spending,” he said.

Lewis Ayres, who runs a Christmas stocking cabin with his brother Dean, is also new to Sheffield's market. “Weekdays are no good”, Lewis said, “by the time the weekend comes, you make your money back, but then the week comes again and it's gone.”

One of the most popular stalls for the Sheffield market is the Cadbury's hot chocolate with Bailey’s cabin. Sarah Buttery who runs the cabin said “it is good that we've got something like this in Sheffield, because York and Leeds have them.” Compared to the bigger markets, however, she said, “it [Sheffield Christmas market] is just not quite there yet.”

Julie Wilson, Trade Co-ordinator and Consultant for Sheffield City Council, signed a three-year contract with the council, which means she will manage the Christmas markets until Christmas 2014. Julie said “we're hoping to just genetically grow rather than run before you can walk.”

However, some members of the public are disappointed with the extent of this year's market compared to previous years.  

Brandon Egley, Marketing Executive for GO Outdoors, is unimpressed by the size of this year's market. “There seems to be less of everything; less stalls, less food outlets,” he said. “It's not really a destination this year. It's a few stalls on Fargate and I can't imagine many people going out of their way to give it time.”

Student at The University of Sheffield, Carlota Calderon, said “it misses the Christmas spirit. I would like to hear some Christmas carols playing, some more colourful lighting and some ornaments in the stalls, like Christmas baubles or nativities.”

Julie confirmed that last year's market was considerably smaller, but said that “the year before, it was all in the Peace Gardens and it was a lot bigger. They had an ice skating rink and various food stalls, but it was a very bad winter with lots of snow and it wasn't commercially viable.” The market lost money in 2010 and was unable to bring the additional features back for 2012.

Christmas markets are becoming a huge feature for many cities across the country and they are relied upon more and more for unique Christmas gifts. “It's [the Sheffield Christmas market] always one of the best things about December,” said Brandon. “With all the markets we have over the year, I really thought Sheffield had embraced that sort of culture – but sadly it just hasn't happened.”

Julie understands that the market is not as successful as it could be, but her aim for the next two years is to learn from this year's flaws and do what she can to improve it.

by Laura Thompson

140 year old factory refurbished for creative business hub

Hagglers Corner is a community of independent businesses, wrapped around a courtyard in a building which had been derelict for over a decade. Tucked away on Queen’s Road, Hagglers Corner is a space dedicated to creative people who take pleasure in beautiful things. 

Dave and Sarah, the minds behind the creative hub, aimed to create a place where businesses don’t just exist to make a profit, but to share their skills and talents with others. 

"We wanted them to run courses and teach people what they do as well", Dave said. 

There are currently 14 businesses at Hagglers Corner which include a piano teacher, a holistic massage and therapy room, screen printing, a florist, a free Sheffield magazine, a tattoo parlour and a yoga studio. 

Dave also owns his own carpentry business, located on site, as well as a cafe which he and Sarah run together. Neither Sarah or Dave had run a cafe before opening Hagglers Corner, but they’re both enjoying having a social space within the building. 

"The cafe isn’t here to make us loads of money", Dave said, "it’s about bringing everything together so people can pop in for a cup of coffee and a chat."

Hagglers' cafe, Kaffehús

The cafe is the first port of call for visitors when they come into the courtyard and has become a reception area for Sarah and Dave. Their aim is to make Hagglers Corner a friendly and welcoming place and the cafe is at the centre of this ethos. "You go into any other cafe in town and it’s a bit stale" Dave said. 

Hagglers Corner is a place for businesses to share their skills and many companies hold classes and workshops throughout the week. Over the coming months, there are a number of workshops at Hagglers Corner, including Advent bunting, personalised cushion making and crocheting.

Amanda Hassimi has created a business which focuses solely on workshops. Scrap Happy Crafts is a brand new company which holds craft workshops for kids. "I would like it for a family to come in and they could make a present for Grandma," Amanda said, "so maybe a mirror frame or a box or a tin or a bit of sewing."

'The Light Room' at Hagglers Corner

"It also works well as a venue space", Dave said "and that’s something that Sheffield really needs." ‘The Light Room’, situated above the offices acts as a venue space for weddings, birthdays and other event, as well as the site’s yoga studio. 

The building itself dates back to 1871, when it was constructed as a factory for a joinery company. Since then, it has been occupied by builders, cattle, milk and coal dealers, caretakers, a confectioner, an accountant and an ironmongers. However, it has been empty since 1994, when Dave pitched the idea of Hagglers Corner to the building’s owner. 

The original plan for Dave and Sarah, who recently welcomed the arrival of their daughter Lilya, was to buy a barge to hold events along the canal in Sheffield, but when Dave saw that the Hagglers Corner building was available, he took the opportunity.

"There is a preservation order on a little bit of the wall which is connected to the school", Dave said, "so it could never be knocked down or be used for residential purposes." The former owner didn’t know what to do with it, so Dave’s idea was warmly welcomed. 

‘He has put in all the money for the general renovations and me and Sarah have sort of done the rest of it,’ he said.

All 14 units have been filled and the businesses occupying them were all found through word of mouth. 

David Powell, owner of furniture and product design company Psalt Design knew Sarah and Dave personally before Hagglers Corner was created. After viewing the space, David and his partners, Richard and Tom, knew it was perfect for their aims. "We wanted that mix between a dirty space where we could do prototyping and modeling work and then a studio space where we could use it for client meetings" he said.  

Artist Jo Peel creating her latest artwork at Hagglers Corner

As a finishing touch to Hagglers Corner, Sarah and Dave commissioned urban artist Jo Peel to create a piece of artwork for the exterior wall connected to the school. 

Jo is an increasingly popular artist in the urban Contemporary art scene, having displayed her work in London, New York, Hong Kong and Japan. 

Using acrylics and spray paint, she creates raw urban landscapes with a hint of decay. The wall is due to be finished within the next week. 



by Laura Thompson