Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre 2019 – Useful information from the City Council
| · Thursday 28 November, 12pm-9pm | · Saturday 30 November, 10am-8pm |
| · Friday 29 November, 11am-9pm | · Sunday 1 December, 11am-5pm |
This newsletter is for local residents and businesses to update you on plans for the 2019 Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre. We appreciate your patience during the build-up and staging of the event, and would like to provide information on the local traffic and access arrangements that will be in place.
Your needs are considered at every stage of the planning for the event but we understand there will necessarily be an impact on a number of people affected by the road closures and additional visitors to the city. The entire event team will work to keep any disruptions to a minimum and appreciate your support at this time. Our contact details are at the end of this letter if you have any queries not covered.
The Fayre Area
Stalls will be located in New Street, Friar Street, Pump Street, High Street, the Cornmarket and Cathedral Square. Stalls are selected and managed by our market operator LSD Promotions who have promised Victorian dress, local producers and Fayre favourites with quality products.
As in previous years, we would encourage businesses across the city to get involved with the Fayre as much as possible. You are able to sell goods outside of your premises as long as they are the same as the goods for sale inside your shop (though, as always, please be confident that you trade within your agreed licenses and have the necessary insurance and documentation). Worcestershire Regulatory Services have provided more information on licensing guidance. Please note that the last day for submitting a TEN application for alcohol sales is 13th November 2019.
Entertainment
A full programme of entertainment has been planned for the weekend, with a number of traditional Victorian entertainers lined up to amuse the crowd and plenty of Christmas music as carol singers fill the streets. Programmes will be distributed in the week before the event, please take a copy to see details and timings of entertainment or visit our website: www.worcesterchristmasfayre.co.uk.
Stages will be located in Cathedral Square, Bell Square and at the Cardinals Hat, with additional activities taking place on New Street, the Shambles, The Hopmarket and around the city centre.
Access during the event
The Victorian Christmas Fayre takes place in Worcester city centre and access to this area will be restricted through the opening hours of the event and during stallholder set up and breakdown.
We recommend that deliveries are re-scheduled to times outside of the Fayre where possible. Vehicles will not be allowed access once the road closures are in place so deliveries during this time will need to be brought in by foot.
Please be aware that Cornmarket Car Park will be closed from the afternoon of Wednesday 27 November until the morning of Monday 2 December. Signage will be in place, but businesses are advised to recommend alternate parking to customers where possible. A full list of car parks can be found at www.worcester.gov/parking.
Businesses and residents who normally have access to private off road parking spaces which are inaccessible during the event may be eligible for a FREE parking permit at St Martin’s Gate car park to cover the period of the event. For more information, please contact the team on 01905 722501 or email christmas@worcester.gov.uk.
Road Closures
Full details of the times and locations for the road closures and traffic restrictions are as follows:
| Road Closures 2019 | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 27th November | 28th November | 29th November | 30th November | 1st December | |
| Angel Place | 09:00 – 23:00 | 09:00 – 23:00 | 09:00 – 22:00 | 09:00 – 20:00 | |
| Broad Street | 09:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| Carden Street | Bay suspension only | ||||
| Cathedral Square | Wednesday 27th November 18:00 to Sunday 1st December 23:00 | ||||
| Charles Street | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| Copenhagen Street (High Street to Deansway) |
18:00 to 21:00 |
07:00 – 23:00 |
08:00 – 22:00 |
07:00 – 21:00 |
08:00 – 23:00 |
| Cornmarket | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| Friar Street | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| High Street (Pump Street to
Elgar Statue) |
04:00 – 23:00 |
08:00 – 22:00 |
07:00 – 21:00 |
08:00 – 23:00 |
|
| High Street (Pump Street to The Cross) |
07:00 – 23:00 |
08:00 – 22:00 |
07:00 – 21:00 |
08:00 – 23:00 |
|
| Mealcheapen Street | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| New Street | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22:00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| Pump Street (Charles Street to The Shambles) |
04:00 – 23:00 |
08:00 – 22:00 |
07:00 – 21:00 |
08:00 – 23:00 |
|
| Pump Street (The Shambles to High Street) |
09:00 – 23:00 |
08:00 – 22:00 |
07:00 – 21:00 |
08:00 – 23:00 |
|
| Queen Street (St Nicholas St – The Trinity) |
Wednesday 27th November 18:00 to Sunday 1st December 23:00 |
||||
| The Shambles | 07:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22.00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
| The Trinity & Queen Street | Thursday 28th November 04:00 to Sunday 1st December 23:00 | ||||
| Union Street | 04:00 – 23:00 | 08:00 – 22.00 | 07:00 – 21:00 | 08:00 – 23:00 | |
Dedicated stewards will work with West Mercia Police to try and help anyone with legitimate access needs in the areas covered by road closures.
To try to minimise the impact on traffic, a Park and Ride service will be in operation from County Hall on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December. All visitors will be encouraged to use these where possible. In addition, Fayre stallholders have been offered car parking outside of the city centre to alleviate the impact on local residents and visitors.
Community Carol Service and Opening Ceremony
We would like to invite you to attend the Community Carol service taking place at Worcester Cathedral from 4.45pm to 5.15pm on Thursday 28 November. This will be followed by a procession to the Victorian carousel in the Cornmarket.
Thank you from us
Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre benefits the whole county of Worcestershire in a variety of ways and contributes an additional boost to the economy of more than £7.3 million a year. However, we are aware that not everyone enjoys or gets a direct benefit from the event and we could not run this event without the support and understanding of locals who we know can be inconvenienced.
If you would like to speak to somebody before the event or during the trading hours of the Fayre, please contact the Fayre team on 01905 722501 or email christmas@worcester.gov.uk.
We hope that you will join us at the Fayre and enjoy the event!