Coventry BID brings the Christmas market to Coventry city centre

Coventry city centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland thanks to an array of Christmas cabins packed with food, drink and gifts arriving in time for the festive season.

Taking up residence in Broadgate under a canopy of star-themed lights and adding to the traders who reside in Hertford Street, the cabins will offer mulled wine, hot chocolate, burgers, fancy fries and other festive food, as well as fire pits to toast marshmallows.

Some cabins are also being offered to local traders and craft businesses, complementing the offering from the city’s businesses for people coming to Coventry for their Christmas shopping.

The cabins, which proved a hit in the city in 2019, will provide the perfect addition to the ice rink that is taking up residence in the Cathedral ruins, providing a great place for festive refreshments from their arrival on November 25th right up to Christmas Eve (December 24th).

They will add to a festive feel across the city centre with Coventry BID partnering with Coventry City Council to deliver fantastic lighting across the main streets and areas. The BID is lighting up key areas including Cathedral Lanes, Upper Precinct, Smithford Way and Market Way, with the council funding a glittery canopy of star-themed lights in Broadgate and lights in other city centre streets.

The annual Christmas Lights Switch On returns on Wednesday, November 17th, with a ‘Under a Sky Full of Stars’ themed family-friendly event hosted and presented by BBC CWR. The event marks the start of the festive season in Coventry, which will see tens of thousands of people pour into the city for Christmas shopping at its array of retailers, festive fun at bars and restaurants, and extra activities like ice skating and special events.

Trish Willetts, BID Director, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the festive cabins back to Coventry this Christmas. It’s no secret that it’s been a difficult time for retailers in the city so we’re throwing everything at this Golden Quarter to bring people to Coventry for their Christmas shopping and festive fun.

“The cabins will not only provide people with lovely festive food and drink but will be showcasing some of our local makers and producers who will be taking up residence in some of them for a week at a time. Everything we do is aimed to make Coventry as appealing as possible for shoppers and visitors from across the region so they come in their droves to shop, celebrate and spend in our wonderful businesses.”

Alongside impressive lighting and Christmas cabins, visitors and locals will be able to take advantage of free parking in participating city centre car parks on Late Night Shopping Wednesdays on the run-up to Christmas as part of a promotion by the council.