UK Christmas market blasted for high prices and one-drink per punter rule

Visitors attending Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market have branded the event a "rip-off" after prices went up to an all-time high when it opened on Friday (1 November).

Two-pint 'steins' of German wheat beer Hofbrau cost £12.50, a half metre long Bratwurst is priced at £9, and a bag of roasted almonds are £4.50.

As well as the price, visitors are also unhappy with a new rule which bans people from buying more than one drink at a time from the bar, despite having to stand in massive queues.

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Some people have said they will boycott this year's event, which is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany or Austria.

Regular visitor John Beard, 35, who works in the city centre, said he won't be attending due to the booze crackdown.

Beard said: "This will be the first time in ten years I'm not going to bother.

"It's a combination of the rip-off prices and that one beer rule is just daft. You can queue for half hour there easily so sometimes you want to double up.

"It's a measure to stop people getting drunk, but where's the fun in that at Christmas? If people want to get merry, let them. There's never any trouble up there.

"For what it costs, it's really not worth it because it's absolutely rammed and you're just standing about it the cold essentially. The stalls are the same each year too.

"People are watching the pennies more than ever and don't want to spend nearly a tenner on a sausage. You can blow about £50 in ten minutes."

Others took to social media to express their dismay. John Coles wrote: "Was good when it first started now going down hill rapidly."

Jeanette Bennison commented: "I've visited a couple of times years ago and I didn't think much of it prices were high then a rip off and stalls selling the same stuff all the way round."

Trevor Smith said: "The last time I went there I got a hot dog and coffee cost me 15 quid I said to the bloke what part of Germany you from he said Tipton."

Emma Jane added: "Absolutely rip off its moody and rough up there now not safe at all."

Dave Gwilt put: "Same old tat year after year, and the added bonus of getting your pockets picked, erm I'll give it a swerve thanks."

At the Birmingham Christmas Markets last year, customers were allowed to buy rounds, but staff had to see each beer handed to each individual person to ensure they were of legal drinking age.

The cost of a regular bratwurst and a full pint of beer has risen from £12.50 to an all-time high of £13.50. These have each risen by 50p since the event last year in 2023, when prices remained the same as the year before.

On the other hand, a half-pint of beer has frozen in price at £4.50, as has a boozy hot chocolate at £7, garlic bread at £4, and crepes from £4.50.

Despite the criticisms, last year Birmingham was crowned the best Christmas market in the UK for 2023, and ranked eighth in the whole of Europe.

Other visitors have vowed to keep coming back to the "amazing" market and say they won't be put off by the prices.

Tony Jones, from Birmingham, said: "I think it's amazing, it's the best time of the year and it's really entertaining. It's once a year and I come every year. I love it, I do.

"Everybody is really happy, it's a great atmosphere."

His girlfriend Chloe Flynn said: "It is expensive for the beers, but because it's German beer you don't even need that many to get drunk."

Stan Felton added: "I think the one drink rule is OK. You can only drink one thing at a time.

"It's like one wife, one car, one home - you don't need more than one thing at a time sometimes.

"Some people they don't want to queue but they have to understand waiting is important. It's about being patient and having compassion."

The Birmingham Christmas Market runs from 1 November until 24 December and is located on Victoria Square and New Street.

Full food and drink prices at Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market 2024:

Double pint of beer - £12.50

Pint of beer - £7

Half-pint of beer - £4.50

Wheat beer - £6.50

Shandy pint - £7

Alcohol-free beer - £7

Gluhwein - £6.50

Aperol Spritz - £7.50

Prosecco - £6

Hot chocolate with Baileys - £7

Bratwurst - £6.50

Half-metre-long bratwurst - £9

Frankfurt sausage - £5.50

Currywurst - £7

Vegan bratwurst - £6.50

Burger - £5

Pork steak - £7

Chips - £4

Garlic bread - £4

Falafel wrap - £6

Pretzels - £4

Crepes - £4.50

Roasted almonds (per 100g) - £4.50

Churros - £4.50

Manchester Evening News approached the organisers of Birmingham Christmas Market for comment, but they did not respond.