‘I’d rather have a night in’, fans moan after beers & snacks at Christmas markets cost more than a flight to Frankfurt

FANS are moaning that they’d “rather have a night in” after twigging that beer and snacks at Christmas markets cost more than a flight to Frankfurt.

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest in the UK – and one of the most expensive.

A two-pint stein of Hofbrau wheat beer costs £12.50 at the market, while a 19-inch Bratwurst costs £8 and a bag of cashews £9.

The three items add up to £29.50 – almost twice as much as a £16.99 Ryanair flight to Frankfurt in January.

Another stallholder is selling 10 medium-sized Nuremberg gingerbread biscuits for a whopping £24.90.

Chocolate-covered marshmallows are also priced at £1.50 each or £15 for a 20-piece box.

People wanting to enjoy a hot toddy have to fork out £6 for a warm glass of mulled wine or £9 for a winter cocktail called Schneeman Punsch.

Visitor Christopher Spence, 50, from Warwick, said: “I’ve been coming to the German market for years – but this year the prices are ridiculous.

“I must have spent £50 in half-an-hour on a beer, a snack and a hotdog and some marshmallows for the kids.

“When you look how much these things cost in the supermarkets, the prices here are just too much. It’s a bit of a rip-off to be honest.”

David Renwick told The Sun: “Seventy quid for four beers is a lot.

“With the cost of living crisis, and all the doom and gloom, you need some cheer and beer – and more than one!”

The Christmas market prices compare with a 500ml bottle of Hofbrau costing £3.50 at Morrisons while a 200g bag of cashew nuts are £2 at Asda.

At Tesco a 200g bag of marshmallows costs £1.10 – 40p less than just one on sale at the Brummie market.

Mum-of-two Josie Roughan, 42, said: “Me and my workmates came here for our Christmas party but we were pretty disappointed.

“The food and drinks are really over-priced and the atmosphere is a bit flat.

“I think people are more conscious about how much things cost.

“Personally I’d prefer to have the girls round to my house for a bring-a-bottle do than spend a fortune standing around in the cold with a £9 cup of warm wine.”

MULLED WHINE

Market signs on bars and stalls announce they only serve “one drink per person”.

Organisers say the rule is intended to stop minors from getting drinks.

But disappointed boozers are criticising the policy.

Reveller Marcos Jhona told The Sun: “They should give people more freedom about what they can and cannot buy, and not restrict them to one drink only.”

But the cheeky punter said he has found a way to beat the rule and have as many beers as he wants.

Marcos said: “There are a number of licensed stalls within the market and you have to be smart like me and go from to the next!

“If you’re with a group of mates one person can buy drinks for all but it you’re on your own it’s one only, and no going back.

“So you wander down to the next stall while sipping your beer, and get the next one in.”

The market, which is in Victoria Square and New Street in the city centre, opened on November 2 and runs until Christmas Eve.

Despite the criticisms, it has been crowned the best Christmas market in the UK for 2023, and ranked eighth in the whole of Europe.

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “The Frankfurt Christmas Market brings millions of visitors into the city each year.

“It provides a huge economic boost for the city as these visitors will also visit Birmingham’s shops, hotels, restaurants and other attractions.

“It remains an incredibly popular event and has been so for over 20 years.”