West Suffolk markets are operating over Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching and there’s a last chance to buy your festive goodies at the West Suffolk markets.

In Bury St Edmunds, there will be a Christmas Eve market with the stall holders who usually trade on Wednesdays and Saturdays, taking Christmas Day off for a well-earned rest. You can get everything from the last minute Christmas vegetables, to wrapping paper, flowers and gift ideas between 8.30am and 4pm.

Tuesday’s are also market days in Newmarket and Christmas Eve will be no exception with traders taking to the High Street once more from 9am to 3pm.

Shoppers in Haverhill can catch their last market before Christmas on Saturday, December 21, from 9am to 3pm, in the High Street, when Santa will also be paying an early visit to the town centre, courtesy of The Round Table.

Mildenhall is well known for its treasure and you’ll be able to sink your teeth into the special find on the Market Place on Friday, December 20, from 9am to 3pm. It is the last market in the town before Christmas and traders will be giving away free chocolate coins to children out shopping with their families.

In Brandon there will be a greengrocer stall on the market place on Saturday, December 21, from 9am to 1.30pm, while Brandon town councillors are also organising a special visit from Santa’s Sleigh alongside charity stalls and a carol singers. A collection is also being planned with all donations going toward a Hedgehog Hospital in Brandon – for more details see Karen’s Hedgehogspital on Facebook.

Peter Stevens, Cabinet Member responsible for the markets, said: “Whether you’ve invited a few last minute guests for Christmas lunch and so need to get more vegetables in, forgotten the sprouts, run out of wrapping paper or are out shopping for last minute gift ideas, our market traders are looking forward to giving you a warm welcome. Our markets and a great many of our traders are part of our local community here in West Suffolk and on behalf of them all, and of West Suffolk Council, we wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”

The markets resume on Saturday, December 28, in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Newmarket although they will be smaller than normal. There is a New Year’s Eve in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds – the latter taking place instead of the Wednesday market as it is New Year’s Day. The next Mildenhall market after Christmas is on January 3 while the Brandon greengrocer stall will be back trading on December 28.

As with most years, West Suffolk markets tend to be smaller in January and February with stallholders taking holidays during what is traditionally a quieter time of the year but the council and the traders thank market shoppers and look forward to welcoming them back in 2020.