Blackpool cafe's European style Christmas market brings a sparkle to street

The arts cafe Hive, currently shut to sit-in customers due to Tier 3 restrictions, has created an outdoor festive farm shop to bring some cheer to the street.

And because the owners teamed up earlier this year with the Polish owner of a fruit and veg business which had just left Abingdon Street market, they have a range of traditional winter treats from Europe.

The Hive is owned by David Worsfold and Jon Parks and first opened in 2016.

David said: “We thought it would be nice to do something special for Christmas. The staff came up with a whole load of ideas and we went off and bought a couple of sheds. We put it all together in two days.

“It has added a bit of colour to the street. Part of our ethos when we started was to support creative arts and we have several artist’s work selling their wares here.

“In the first lockdown, we teamed up with Norbert Kawczynski who had just left the market. He needed a new home for his business and we thought we could create a sort of urban farm shop. It has been doing very well.

“He is from Poland and his family back there make slippers and hand painted baubles. We have been selling them and they have been going fast.

“The bakers upstairs, who has 40 years experience, has been making mince pies and Christmas cake and we have been putting on roast pork sandwiches and hot drinks of course.

“It has been well received, Coun Paul Galley put a lovely review on Twitter for us which we would like to thank him for, and we have been busy.

“It is something new for Church Street. There are some fantastic businesses here but sometimes the street can look a little drab. We wanted to do something to boost the community.”

He said the Christmas market will remain in place until Christmas Eve.

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