Brits are paying for £15 hog roast rolls in a cost of Christmas crisis

EXCLUSIVE The cost of Christmas crisis: How cash-strapped British families are paying for £15 hog roast rolls and £12 chips to help X-mas stall owners make ‘over £80,000 in two months’

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Cash strapped Britons across the UK have reported being charged sky-high prices for drinks and food Christmas markets including £15 hog roast rolls and £12 chips helping some stall owners ‘earn over £80,000 in just two months’.

Residents in Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham have all reported seeing the cost of their annual trip to their local market soar this year in an un-festive continuation of the cost of living crisis.

Visitors to London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland have also taken to social media to share their pricey experiences at the attraction, including ‘potatoes on sticks’ costing £6.50 and nine chestnuts totaling £5.

The infamously expensive city attraction is also subject to an initial £7.50 entry fee making any trip there one that dents the wallet.

MailOnline spoke to customers at four Christmas markets across the UK to get a flavour of how expensive the average annual trip has become.

MailOnline spoke to customers at four Christmas markets across the UK to get a flavour of how expensive the average annual trip has become

NEWCASTLE: Visitors to Newcastle Christmas market have complained of sky high prices

NEWCASTLE: Punters at the market have reported paying as much as £12 for festive styled chips

NEWCASTLE: Families heading for fun at the stalls in Newcastle city centre joked that they shed a tear when they had to reach for their wallets

NEWCASTLE: Daniel Cannon and Nicole Gingell were forced to share a £9 hotdog due to the price

Newcastle

Customers visiting Newcastle’s bustling Christmas market have hit out at its rip-off prices which include £12 for chips and £9 for a sausage.

Families heading for fun at the stalls in Newcastle city centre joked that they shed a tear when they had to reach for their wallets.

The city’s Grainger Street and Grey Street is home to almost 30 stalls but locals say the rising prices, combined with parking fees, makes it an extortionate day out.

At one hut, foodies can get their hands on a portion of ‘Chrimbo fries’ which includes chips topped with pulled pork, bacon and trimmings, but it will set them back £12.

Locals can also wind down at the enclosed tipi-style Moosenwirt bar, where mulled wine and cider costs £6.50.

Elsewhere, you can find a Christmas Dinner crepe and a Currywurst sausage, both for £9 at different stalls.

For those not wanting an alcoholic option, one stall is selling Nutella and biscoff hot chocolates, which come at £4.50 each.

NEWCASTLE: Lewis Grant had forked out almost £30 on two Greek gyro wraps for him and his fiancé Shannon Tracey

NEWCASTLE: Also on sale at the market was this fetching hot dog for £9

Off-shore worker Lewis Grant had forked out almost £30 on two Greek gyro wraps for him and his fiancé Shannon Tracey.

Lewis, 29, said: ‘It is quite a price when you stop and think about it.

‘It only comes around once a year, but I paid £27 which I think is extortionate.

‘We pop to the markets once or twice a year but I don’t think we could come any more than that.

‘To be honest I try not to think about it when they tell you how much it is. I just tap my card and have a little cry inside.

‘You have to factor in car parking as well. We would usually try to get the Metro in but not everyone does that.

‘I do think they need to look at the prices at the stalls because they are high. It shouldn’t really be nearly £30 for two wraps.’

The couple, who have four children between them, say they couldn’t justify visiting the markets as a whole family.

Shannon, 26, who owns her own cleaning business, said: ‘The prices are high. We wouldn’t come with the kids, put it that way.

‘We haven’t actually done many festive activities with them this year so far because of the price of everything seems to be going up – it’s shocking.

‘If we bring all of them then it’s four times a hot chocolate and four times some food so it all adds up.

‘It was me who suggested coming here, Lewis wouldn’t normally be that interested.

‘We had a hospital appointment so we thought we may as well pop in and have a look.

‘I don’t think we will be buying any of the goods, we’ll only try the food because of the cost.’

Despite the popularity of the festive season, Newcastle’s market has shrunk in size in 2023 compared to previous years, when stalls snaked around the Eldon Square shopping centre.

NEWCASTLE: Despite the high prices the market is as busy as it’s ever been

NEWCASTLE: Peter Davison enjoying some time off work with a £5.50 pint at the Moosenwirt

Daniel Cannon, 29, had his partner Nicole Gingell, 27, originally from County Durham, shared a German Bratwurst between them to cut down on spending.

Finance worker Daniel said: ‘We’ve just spent £9 on the sausage which is quite expensive.

‘It’s nice but I would say it’s probably worth around £6.50. That’s what I would be happy paying.

‘It could price people out of coming. We chose to have one to share between us to try cut down and save on the cost.

‘If it was a little bit cheaper we would have got one each but they’ve priced it too high that we haven’t bothered doing that.

‘They would then have made a little bit more money out of us if we could afford one each.’

Nicole, who works as a pre-school teacher, added: ‘We went to the Durham Christmas markets recently and that was just £5 to get in it.

‘It wasn’t great because there wasn’t much choice but at least here we can move around and it’s free.

‘There is more choice here but the prices are still high and I can see why it could possibly put some people off.’

However, not everyone was bothered about the price, including Peter Davison who was enjoying some time off work with a £5.50 pint at the Moosenwirt.

The 62-year-old events photographer said: ‘I do think the market is poor compared to the ones at York.

‘But what you pay at the markets is similar to other pubs and restaurants in the city – it’s all quite similar now but it’s still expensive.

‘I don’t mind it too much. People should have the attitude that you work hard, play hard.

‘At this time of year, it gets you out of the house and gets you some fresh air.’

Liverpool

LIVERPOOL: Meanwhile in Liverpool’s central Christmas market, the general feeling is that while things are pricey – they could be worse

LIVERPOOL: The market located outside St George’s Hall is home to a raft of stalls selling hot and cold food items as well as seasonal beverages

LIVERPOOL: Nicola Wiliams, her partner Andrew Evans and her daughter Cara all agreed it could have been worse

Meanwhile in Liverpool’s central Christmas market, the general feeling is that while things are pricey the reputation of the festive attractions means ‘you expect to pay more’.

The market located outside St George’s Hall is home to a raft of stalls selling hot and cold food items as well as seasonal beverages.

The cost of a beer is £6.50, which is high for the city, whilst a cup of mulled wine will set you back £8.50.

If punters are feeling peckish, they can sample the delights of the festive Bavarian cuisine including a £5 portion of roast chestnuts or a £12 chicken gyros wrap.

Stephanie Etherington, 67, has visited the market with her daughter Laura Bird, 39, and grandson Bobby 3 and thinks that all things considered they’ve got off lightly.

‘I would expect to pay a bit more to be honest,’ said Stephanie.

‘I think some people will be be priced out but most will just go with it.

‘The Christmas Market is always a bit expensive, but they’re saying it’s bigger and better this year.

‘Personally, I do think it’s a bit pricey but you kind of expect to pay more.’

LIVERPOOL: If punters are feeling peckish, they can sample the delights of the festive Bavarian cuisine including a £5 portion of roast chestnuts or a £12 chicken gyros wrap

LIVERPOOL: A German sausage has onions added at the Christmas Market

LIVERPOOL: A portion of salt and pepper chicken with fries was being sold for £11

Nicola Wiliams, 52, and her partner Andrew Evans, 42, had come from Pwhelli, North Wales, with her daughter Cara, 16 and agree that Liverpool’s offering has been a pleasant surprise.

Cara, who’d bought a portion of halloumi fries for £7, said: ‘They’re OK, but I would have liked a few more.

‘They’re a bit expensive for what you get.’

Young couple Declan Curran, 25, and Alannah Scott, 26, had flown in from Belfast.

Declan said: ‘It’s our first time here and we’ve been weighing up all the prices.

‘We expected to pay a bit more but the prices are more or less the same as the Christmas market back home.

‘I saw they’re selling salt and pepper chicken with fries for £11.

‘But it comes in small box and you could buy a proper meal in a pub or somewhere else for that.’

Alannah added: ‘There’s lots of choice here.

‘But we’ll be walking all around before deciding what to buy.

‘Some things do look at bit pricey.’

LIVERPOOL: Louise Evans her dad’s (far left) birthday with her husband Richard (right) were all enjoying German currywurst and bratwurst costing £8 each

LIVERPOOL: in the market the cost of a beer is £6.50, which is high for the city, whilst a cup of mulled wine will set you back £8.50

Louise Evans, 49, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, had come to celebrate her dad’s birthday with her husband Richard Evans, 52.

They were all enjoying German currywurst and bratwurst costing £8 each.

‘I’ve not come this Christmas market before,’ said Louise.

‘But I think the prices are similar at most of them.

‘My view is I’ve chosen to come here so I know I’m going to be paying a more than usual.

‘I don’t mind spending a bit more, especially as its a special occasion.

‘We’re not going away this year, so we decided to bring my dad here for his birthday.

‘But the prices will put some people off.’

‘Having said that, my currywurst tastes really good.’

But her dad Charles Currin, 75, joked: ‘£8! I thought she paid that for the three of us.’

Kath Wynne, 48, her daughter-in-law Erin Bullick, 19, and daughter Maimey, were visiting from Llandudno.

Kath said: ‘We just paid £12 for two mulled ciders which seems a bit overpriced.

‘Some things are more expensive but we’re treating it as a one-off and you wouldn’t want to come here every day.

‘I suppose if you live here the higher prices will put some people off.

‘Also, if you’re not working or on a tight budget you would find it expensive.’

Manchester

MANCHESTER: In wet and grey Manchester, grim weather did not discourage revellers from flocking to the Christmas markets

MANCHESTER: Prices at the market can be high with some punters seen paying £15 for hog rolls

MANCHESTER: (L to R) Suzanne Cummins, Becky Whitley & Rachel Bignall were not impressed with the prices of their drinks

In wet and grey Manchester, grim weather did not discourage revellers from flocking to the Christmas markets – and neither did the sky-high prices.

A hog roll at the market will set you back a massive £15 and for £10 there is the festive pig mac ‘n’ cheese topped with maple glazed pigs in blankets, with sage and onion stuffing, drizzled with cranberry sauce.

Other prices include a £13.50 chicken waffle and a bagel for £9.50 at the markets which extend across Cathedral Gardens and Piccadilly Gardens.

Mulled wine costs £5.50, a stein is £12, with an additional £8 refundable deposit for the glass, prosecco is priced £6.50, and a double gin with a mixer is £8.50.

But that’s not the only sting in the tail as Suzanne Cummins found out the hard way.

Nottingham

NOTTINGHAM: Visitors to the popular Christmas market are also complaining about huge increases in the price of food and drink

NOTTINGHAM: Traders at the spectacular Winter Wonderland – held at the city’s Old Market Square – told MailOnline how they had been forced to hike up prices this year

In Nottingham, visitors to the popular Christmas market are also complaining about huge increases in the price of food and drink with some having to limit their purchases to one only.

Prices on display include a loaded steak burger for £11, a gourmet wild boar burger for £13, and both hot chocolate and mulled wine at £5 each a cup.

Struggling students Suleman Ali and Sarah Hussain, both tucking into churro donuts costing £15 for two, agreed they were ‘delicious’ but couldn’t afford to buy a £4 coffee to wash them down with.

Sarah, 20, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, visiting her fourth festive market in weeks, said: ‘It’s getting pricier the further south you go and Nottingham is charging 50pence to a pound more on food and beverages than the northern markets.

‘As a one off visit it is affordable but this is my fourth one so I’m running out of money.’

The psychology student was catching up with her pal Suleman, a microbiology student from Coventry, West Midlands.

He said: ‘We’re both students so prices for us are expensive – £7.50 for a churro.’

Traders at the spectacular Winter Wonderland – held at the city’s Old Market Square – told MailOnline how they had been forced to hike up prices this year because of supplier’s increases in costs.

Kirstin Evans, who runs Roast Pork Hut traders, said: ‘This is my second year here and I’ve had to put my prices up by 50 pence an item.

‘I buy really nice meat and my suppliers in Coventry and they have hiked their prices and I have to reflect that.

‘I have tried to be fair and kept it to a minimum but we’re a business and have to make money.

‘I think customers understand but everyone is finding it tough’

Her priciest dish is a roast potatoes, pork and stuffing at £10.50 with a pulled pork cob at £8.50 an a bottle of water at £2.50.

Student Esme Leatherland, 16, splashing out on a tasty £8.50 gammon cob, said: ‘I’m quite happy to pay the price. Everything has gone up and I think it is quite cheap in comparison to other places!’

The economics and maths student, out with her best friend, student Will Matthews, 17, had earlier enjoyed an ice skating session for a student discount of £12 each.

NOTTINHGHAM: Student Esme Leatherland and her friend Will Matthews say they’re happy to pay the high prices

NOTTINGHAM: Trader of Raclette & Crepes stalls Stewart Stanworth reasoned that ‘everything’s expensive these days’

NOTTINGHAM: Michelle Brown and her partner Ahmed Elnabawi both agreed the prices were sky high

Trader Stewart Stanworth, who runs both the crepe and raclette stalls, said: ‘Thins have definitely gone up, costs from the suppliers have so you have to pass it on.

‘It’s unfortunate and it may slow people down in what they are buying but they are paying for the experience to.

‘Things here are expensive but everything is expensive.’

He’s added £1 extra to all his savoury raclettes – the priciest ‘Raclette alps’ with potatoes, bacon, mixed pickles and mushrooms costing £10.

Stewart said: ‘The Swiss cheese I use has gone up 200 per cent, so I’ve added a small increase of £1 per item.’

Mother-of-two Jess Roberts grumbled that the market was ‘too pricey’ and she had to limit how much she bought for her toddler daughter and 12-year-old son.

She said: ‘We’ve been on the ferris wheel and bought some, the cheapest we could find.’

Michelle Brown from Leicester, visiting with her partner Ahmed Elnabawi, both agreed the prices were sky high.

But Michelle, 57, a service manager for a homeless children’s hostel, said: ‘If you can’t splash the cash at Christmas, when can you.’

She said: ‘The prices are high but you’re paying for the experience too.

‘We’ve bought two hot chocolates for £11 and two falafel sandwiches for £20 – that’s pricey but it’s what you have to pay.’

Co project worker Ahmed 49, added ‘It’s expensive but enjoyable and that’s important.’

Best friends Pearl Long and Sally Morgan, who meet up at the market every year, made a beeline for the pancake stall.

Tucking into a banana and chocolate pancake, which cost £8, the garden centre worker from Nottingham, said: ‘It’s like any market and all the prices are high.

‘This is the fourth year we’ve met up here and we’ve noticed the prices have risen, but it’s a one off experience.

Sally Morgan from Sutton Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, added: ‘Eight quid for a pancake is shocking but we’re trying to enjoy it.’

London

As you might expect from the capital, when it comes to unaccountably high prices for festive booze and fare, London takes some beating.

This month, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland has come under fire by scores of visitors after they were charged extortionate prices for food, drink and activities during their experience.

The event is a popular Christmas attraction in London, with thousands travelling from all over the UK and beyond to experience a slice of the festive magic – but some have left feeling the pinch rather than festive spirit.

Visitors have taken to social media to share their pricey experiences at the winter attraction, including an initial £7.50 entry fee, ‘potatoes on sticks’ costing £6.50 and nine chestnuts totalling £5.

Nae, known as @na3na3inthehouse on TikTok, is a British lifestyle influencer who often uploads content surrounding food – from sharing delicious cooking recipes to trying various cuisines at restaurants in the UK and abroad.

How much we spent in Winter Wonderland 2023 (as a family of 5) 👭🏻👨🏽‍🤝‍👨🏾🧍🏽- total at the end! #winterwonderland2023 #winterwonderland #howmuchwespent #whatieatinaday #thingstodoinlondon #halafoodlondon

LONDON: Winter Wonderland has come under fire by scores of visitors after they were charged extortionate prices for food, drink and activities during their experience

LONDON: With an initial £7.50 entry fee, ‘potatoes on sticks’ costing £6.50 and nine chestnuts totalling £5.00, people have taken to social media to share their costly experiences at the winter attraction

The content creator posted a video to her 81,000 followers, which broke down how much it cost her family of five to visit Winter Wonderland and enjoy the ‘complete package’ of games, food and other activities.

Nae revealed that it cost £37.50 in total for everyone to gain entry, and went t on to detail the cost of her brood’s activities, including one ‘Hook a Duck’ game at £6, a ‘Roll-a-ball’ game for £5, a Pokémon themed game for £10 and two rides on the Aeronaut Starflyer, which totalled £16.

When Nae and her family decided to tuck to into some food, they visited a Mac Factory stall for two pots of macaroni cheese, which cost £19.80.

A hot chocolate, croissant and a portion French toast at the Chrome London stall in the park set back some members of the family £24.25.

Tempted by the option of Korean-style chicken at a Chick ‘n’ Sours stall, Nae decided to purchase chicken strips and fries – totalling £26 for two portions.

Some of the family members opted for fish and chips and a fish burger from E8Fish, totalling £27, and, for dessert, the family tucked into bubble tea and bubble waffles from DOT DOT, priced at £15.70 for the two.

In total, Nae rounded up the cost of the family’s experience to £192.35 – or £38.45 per person.

Rating everything I ate in Winter Wonderland❄️☃️ #winterwonderland2023 #winterwonderlandlondon #foodinlondon

LONDON: Lifestyle influencer Nae detailed the cost of her family’s activities, including one ‘Hook a Duck’ game at £6, a ‘Roll-a-ball’ game for £5 and a Pokémon themed game for £10

LONDON: Food reviewer Angelina uploaded a video of her visit to Winter Wonderland, and captioned it with: ‘Don’t be fooled by these influencers telling you Winter Wonderland food is incredible’

Another TikTok content creator, Angelina, who goes by @angelina.pj on the video sharing app, detailed her recent experience to Winter Wonderland, sharing similarly priced bills for food in particular.

The online food reviewer visited the attraction to explore various cuisines offered by stallholders in a video posted to her 85,000 following.

Beginning the footage by saying, ‘Don’t be fooled by these influencers telling you Winter Wonderland food is incredible,’ Angelina headed straight to a Meat Heads stall to purchase £9 tacos that she described as ‘lacking meat’ and were ‘really salty.’

The content creator then picked up a hot dog from an unknown stall, and expressed her shock at receiving a plain sausage and bun for £8, and rated it a three out of ten as she described the pork product as ‘almost as if it’s alive.’

Stumbling across the same chestnut stall that Nae and her family had visited on a separate occasion, Angelina opted to purchase the £5 nuts – but labelled it ‘daylight robbery’ after discovering she was only given nine chestnuts.

LONDON: Angelina purchased ‘potatoes on a stick’ at Winter Wonderland, which set the influencer back a whopping £6.50

LONDON: The content creator then picked up a hot dog from an unknown stall, and expressed her shock at receiving a plain sausage and bun for £8

Other discouraged visitors have taken to X, formerly Twitter, share their own recent Winter Wonderland experiences and thoughts of the attraction’s general prices.

One person wrote, ‘Winter Wonderland has always been a rip off,’ while another uploaded a photo of a cup of mulled wine from the attraction, writing, ‘£7.70 #BrokenBritain.’

A fellow dissatisfied visitor, who have been taking their children over the years, wrote: ‘We have been the past 3yrs with the kids and each time it’s got more and more expensive last year got no change out of nearly £200 for the day.’

One potential visitor, upon discovering the cost of the entry fee, announced: ‘It costs £7.50 to enter Winter Wonderland this year during peak hours? Before you’ve entered the park you’ve already nearly spent a tenner man bye.’

Another person, who is planning to visit the attraction in December, jokingly wrote: ‘I will probably go on a couple rides and get a bag of chips. I’ll begin the process of re-mortgaging my property to facilitate this.’

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Brits are paying for £15 hog roast rolls in a cost of Christmas crisis

EXCLUSIVE The cost of Christmas crisis: How cash-strapped British families are paying for £15 hog roast rolls and £12 chips to help X-mas stall owners make ‘over £80,000 in two months’

Liverpool

Manchester

READ MORE: Cost of Christmas has TRIPLED in the past 30 years to £1,800 with Brits now spending an average 290 PER CENT more on parties, food, decorations and gifts

Nottingham

London