Work has begun on setting up a big wheel and ice rink for Dundee Winterfest – but the fallout over pricing for the event’s stalls is continuing.
The Christmas festival, which gets under way later this month, will feature a Ferris wheel at Slessor Gardens, the ice rink and market selling food, drink and other goods.
Final permissions for the event were signed off last week.
But some local businesses have complained at being told they would need to fork out nearly £10,000 to rent a stall at the market.
With infrastructure for the event now being installed, other businesses have criticised the cost of getting involved.
Amy Watson, owner of restaurant Gallery 48 on West Port, believes local firms “weren’t taken into consideration”.
She said: “The whole event is being organised by a company from Glasgow and I think a lot of people would much rather see a Dundonian company running it.
“After a pandemic we’re all trying to reboot, so making the prices so high really is a kick in the teeth for some businesses.
“I’ve never been approached by anyone about the festival but I would have liked to have been involved.
“It’ll be interested to see how many of the businesses are local.”
Harsh Mahajan, who owns Beans and Berries on Commercial Street, says the impact of the pandemic should be a consideration.
He said: “I’d say that it’s ridiculous, especially post-Covid when you don’t know what footfall and turnout are going to be like.
“It’s not fair, regardless of who is organising it.
“We don’t mind a bit of competition – it’s good for businesses – but when it’s that kind of advantage it is unfair.”
Heather Judge, owner of Coffee and Co on Reform Street, said: “I think it’s going to be a lot of posh, upmarket businesses that have stalls there.
“We decided not to go because it’s not as though we could take a coffee machine down – plus the prices put me off a bit.
“Because we mainly just do coffee and homemade cakes it’s not really one for us.
I do feel for all the local businesses… they’re missing out on a great opportunity
Heather Judge, Coffee and Co
“Still, I do feel for all the local businesses that what to go along but can’t afford to.
“They’re missing out on a great opportunity.”
A spokesperson for M&N Events, which is organising Winterfest, said: “We have extensive experience of working on festive markets throughout the UK and, in comparison with other cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, our costs are cheaper.
“Our pricing structure is fairly based on the infrastructure costs we have to absorb to enable the market to take place.
“We have also donated two free market chalets to Dundee City Council which is set to benefit around twelve businesses over the six week period.”
