Catering Information
It's not a trip to a Christmas Market without some delicious food and drink to keep you warm in the winter. We have a range of different catering pitch types on site including chalet hire, pitch-only rentals, and space for small food and beverage bikes. Particularly on the weekends, Bath Christmas Market can get busy. You must ensure that you can meet the food demands of our visitors quickly and effectively. You should also consider your queuing system when choosing your pitch.
- Catering Chalets
We have medium or large catering chalet pitches available. These are designed in a similar way to our chalets and are perfect for people with a larger catering set up.
For the first time this year, we are offering the opportunity to apply for a 3 year contract for these units, meaning that you can really embed yourself into the world of Bath Christmas Market. You will also have the opportunity to bring your own structure subject to this being in keeping with the market aesthetic. If you do not wish to bring your own structure, our chalets are still available at an additional charge and you can choose your own decoration in keeping with the Christmas Market guidelines.
Due to the nature of the construction of the chalets, all dimensions are approximate. Our catering chalets are situated in key locations across the market and are available in a variety of sizes to suit your set up. We are looking for a range of hot food providers that cater to a range of dietary preferences. Please note: all catering chalets MUST have vegetarian options.
Medium: 2000cm depth x 2150cm height x 3500 width
Large: 3000cm depth x 2150cm height x 4000cm width
- Pitch-only Rentals
We have a range of pitch-only catering options available. We invite anyone with an interesting and unique catering offer that fits the market aesthetic to apply. For our pitch-only rentals, you MUST provide a clean, well-dressed gazebo or structure (max 3m x 3m) that is in keeping with the market aesthetic, and you must ensure your pitch is well lit. We want to see applications from a range of providers including food and beverage caterers that can offer something our visitors won’t find anywhere else.
- Mobile Catering Unit
These are smaller pitches designed for transportable units that can be moved on and off-site if required. These can be anything from a quirky bike serving delicious goodies, to a converted car. Previous mobile catering units include horseboxes, vintage cars, catering bikes, and carts.
- The Lodge
This year, we are reintroducing our much-loved 'Lodge'. The Lodge is a bar pitch in the heart of the market measuring 6m x 14m and we are looking to provide a place where people can sit back, relax and enjoy a drink surrounded by the beauty of Bath Christmas Market. This is a pitch-only pitch however we may be able to provide a structure if required. We are looking for applicants who are able to stock, dress, staff and run this bar.
Additional Information
Applicants must complete an online application via our website before Friday 24th April. These are not on a first-come, first-served basis so please take the time to include as much information as possible. Please be aware that applications will only be considered if they are accompanied by a detailed description of your products and set up. This is the case for both new and repeat proposals. If you have attended the market before, this does not automatically grant you a place in the 2026 market.
Ahead of applying, please ensure you read through all of the information carefully alongside our site plan and price list.
We recommend that you demonstrate the quality of your produce and packaging by providing high-quality photographs of the products you intend to sell. The team consider all applications equally and do not take into consideration previous attendance at the market when choosing the final shortlist. They also curate the event to include a good retail mix, and diversity of market products, and take into consideration what is already on offer in the city so as not to compete with the current retail offering.
As part of the application, you will need to complete ACT Counter Terrorism training, or have evidence that this has been completed within the past 6 months. Complete the training
The training takes around 45 minutes and we recommend completing this prior to starting your application. Find out more on the ACT website.
Our Selection Process
Bath Christmas Market is a popular event, receiving many high quality applications from a wide range of exceptional businesses. We take into consideration many different elements when deciding on our final list of stallholders including the following points:
Locality We are interested in knowing not-only where your business is based, but also where your produce is from. Quality of products and set up We want to ensure that the food on offer at Bath Christmas Market is using some of the best produce. Please outline this in your application. We also have a preference for vendors at the market that fit with our image, and want to see pitches dressed to a high standard. Ethics of the business All produce must be ethically sourced, sustainable, and fair trade. Your business should also take a sustainable approach to the way you transport and supply food. Please tell us how you will reduce the environmental impact of your business. Originality We take into consideration the product range you wish to sell and how they feed in to the wider market. Please outline all products you wish to sell alongside any dietary preferences you cater for. Our caterers should be able to offer something ' different and unique’ to is already on offer on the high street. There are also certain types of product that would not be deemed acceptable for trade at this market Decorating your Chalet
Every year, we love seeing the creativity that our stallholders and caterers have. However, we do have some house rules when it comes to decorating your chalet. Whilst you are responsible for the decoration of your chalet, Bath Christmas Market reserves the right to request any changes to the decorations. All lights must be warm white, LED lights, including any decorative fairy lights. No coloured lights are permitted without prior approval from the Events team. You must also ensure your pitch is kept tidy and complies with health and safety regulations. If you are asked to make changes to this, you must do so in a timely fashion.
Electricity
As standard, each catering unit has access to either a 16amp or 32amp supply, you will be told what your allocated usage is if successful. For an additional 16amp or 32amp supply you would need to make this request once successful and for an additional charge. Please see the catering price list for details. Electricity usage will be monitored by our electricians, so everyone must stay within this consumption limit. Failure to do so may result in a power failure. Power to catering units is included in the rent. All electrical equipment must have a PAT (Portable Appliance Test) certificate unless you can demonstrate that it is brand new with receipts of purchase. You will not be permitted to use any untested equipment within your chalet/on-site. We will have qualified electricians on-site during the build of the event who can carry out PAT testing of your appliances for a charge of £7+VAT per item. If the event electricians deem any electrical items to be unsafe or not fit for purpose, we will be unable to let you continue using them. Naked flames, candles, etc are not permitted as part of your display or anywhere in your chalet without the permission of the event organisers, and are subject to an on site risk assessment.
All electrical equipment must have a PAT (Portable Appliance Test) certificate unless you can demonstrate that it is brand new with receipts of purchase. We will have qualified electricians on-site during the build of the event who can carry out PAT testing of your appliances for an additional charge. If the event electricians deem any electrical items to be unsafe or not fit for purpose, we will be unable to let you continue using them. Naked flames, candles, etc are not permitted as part of your display or anywhere in your chalet without the permission of the event organisers and are subject to an onsite risk assessment.
Residents 'Discovery Card' Discount
Bath Christmas Market is an event that aims to bring communities together and we want to encourage Bath Residents
to enjoy the city at Christmas time. For this reason, we ask all stallholders to provide a discount or offer that they can use with proof of address. These must be valid from Monday to Friday. In addition to this, On Wednesday 25th November, our Residents’ Night will return from 5pm to 7pm. All caterers will also need to be present and able to trade during this time.Public Liability Insurance
All caterers trading at Bath Christmas Market must hold Public Liability Insurance for no less than £5million. If you are a member of the National Market Stallholder’s Federation, you are automatically covered for the necessary Public Liability cover. Evidence of this should be provided in advance of the event. Any caterer that doesn’t provide this information will not be permitted to enter the Market site and may forfeit their place.
Waste Water Management
We do not provide any large scale waste water facilities, grey waste liquid must be removed by yourselves. In some circumstances, individual arrangements may be considered at the discretion of the organiser. Please provide details of your water and waste water requirements.
