Residents of Brighton and Hove will have to miss out on the annual Christmas market this season after the city council failed to find a commercial partner to fund it.
Brighton and Hove City Council said they could not commit to spending the £70,000 required to run the festive market this year due to the ‘enormous funding crisis’.
The market was originally scrapped due to Covid and rising costs. In July, the council called on locals to create a community-led replacement event. However, the council has failed to find a commercial partner.
‘Organising a Christmas Market for the city was always dependent on finding a new commercial partner to help us to fund and co-ordinate the event,’ said lead councillor for tourism and culture Alan Robins.
‘Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to find a partner willing to commit to the project for a single year.
‘Given the enormous funding crisis the council is facing, we cannot commit to spending the £70,000 needed to stage an event.’
The council recently announced a scheme to have a community Christmas tree put up in each of the 23 council wards in time for Christmas.
