German Christmas Market

I love the Christmas markets in Birmingham, it gets bigger and better every year. Its the perfect start to the festive season and a great place to go with friends or family. The food is good quality and really tasty and the stalls have a wide selection of potential Christmas presents. Although it is isn’t cheap, the price is worth paying for the experience and unique gifts. Its well worth a visit. I would recommend trying the hot apple juice with toffee and the ham roll.

Sorry can only give this a one star, if only based on the price of things. It is a typical UK enterprise to screw the last lot of money out of you over a short period. I presume that their costs must be high to account for the prices.
I saw a stand with 12 hams on a spit, given the portions handed out, it is difficult to see how they would get through them into next year. £4.50 for a small bap that disappeared into your hand.
I bought a Frankfurter sausage in standard finger roll for £2.50; it looked rediculous, but as I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, I had to have something.
The Lowebrau cost £3.50 with a £3.0 deposit on the glass. I had just the one drink, this was not what I wanted for a night out with colleagues for our Christmas do. However, it was a chance for us to relax, and have a laugh. I didn’t see many of my colleagues eating.
Six of us later found a curry house, and had a meal.
The overcrowding issue is primarily due to the how much they have tried to compact into a small area. This is what cuases the hazards. The close proximity other stands was not good. The stand with the beer had the smallest frontage space and caused jam for people trying to get through. Perhaps the organisers should limit the number of similar stands, and set a ceiling price for some standard items, perhaps that idea isn’t as goer.
One thing for sure, for a Wednesday night it was absolutely packed.
I saw little evidence of the police, but I did see one security chappy at the bar. I have to stress that he wasn’t drinking. Perhaps that’s why he looked so miserable.

Having been enchanted by the Christmas Market in Munich last year, I was hoping that a visit to Birmingham’s “Frankfurt” version would bring back some of the magic. Instead I was greatly disappointed.

The produce on offer was certainly similar, but far pricier. The atmosphere festive, but felt more commercial; and the whole event so packed that I would describe it as dangerous.

I saw an older lady knocked over and trampled on. Children were separated from parents. I saw several kids clearly lost and distressed; and unlike the German equivalent, the whole event had to be heavily policed. Many people complained that they hadn’t been able to enjoy the market at all and ended up leaving disappointed.

I’m not sure what the answer is – people clearly want a Christmas Market – and the whole idea is certainly very appealing. But, in its present form, the Birmingham Christmas Market sadly evokes the choas of the famous Pamplona Bull Run far more than it does the relaxed festivities of Christmas in Frankfurt.

It adds a nice atmosphere in Birmingham. the only problem is too commercial and everything is overpriced!

As an „Exile German“ living in Birmingham it was great to go there and enjoy some typical German Christmas goodies. But I was a bit surprised to see German Beer at a Christmas Market! Sorry to say: this is really not a typical German Christmas custom, and one can hardly find a beer stand on a Christmas Market in Germany! ;-) But still, it was nice to have a Becks again!

the German market is world famous in Birmingham. the market is very appealing a is a great place for adults to grab a drink or three and something to eat. i had a ostrich burger which was very good! but for retail purposes the product range is overpriced and the items fairly pointless . for food and drink highly recommended but dont bring the kids!

Visited the German Christmas Market, about 2 years ago, really enjoyed it, found things quite expensive, will definatly go again as soon as....

I would give the Christmas market six stars if it were possible. A dear friend of mine from Ireland is coming to stay, and we planned her visit according to the start of the market. The atmosphere is perfect, getting even the moodiest Scrooges into the Christmas spirit.

I just love german markets they are colourfull and the food is lovelly real nice people to

Having just moved to Birmingham in the autumn last year,I had never experienced the German Christmas market before! It was a wonderful Christmas shopping experience,walking round the stalls and thinking christmas is here! It was around for approx a whole month,so plenty of time to arrange a day to pop into town and have a look around! And I must warn people with wheel/pushchairs,that it can get very busy and difficult to move around if you miss time it! Esp if there is another event on in town that attracts a lot of people from outside of the area! All in all,it was wonderful,and look forward to it returning this year!

Oh, I absolute looooove the German Christmas Market! It's so Germany and Christmasy! Absolutely wonderful.

Every year in the autumn, Birmingham New Street up to Victoria Square gets absolutely transformed into a haven of snow-covered gingerbread style huts hawking all sorts of lovely wares. Then there's Santa's house, and a fun kiddie roller coaster.

There are bratwurst and sausage huts, gingerbread huts with all sorts of ginger cakes. My favourites are the donut stands, with pile upon pile of fried sticky goodness lathered in every flavour topping you can imagine. This last year I had a Toffee Apple one, and a Strawberry Cheesecake one. Delish!

There are more knick knack booths than you can swing a cat at, filled with classic German toys such as nutcrackers. There are even some matryoshka dolls, and some Swiss treats.

The bier huts are lovely -- little pubs with tables to stand around near, swilling ale and mead out of a proper huge stein, and feeling just a little bit leiderhosen about it all, to be honest.

All the people at the booths are really friendly, and the crowd is generally jolly, lots of families and tourists.

The lights that Brum City Council (Europe's largest council, for a bit of pub quiz trivia) put up are really divine, and make everything around the Market so magical.

Christmas in Brum wouldn't be complete without the German market.

I want markets all year round! The German market only stays for a short time but adds so much buzz to the area its amazing. The food is really tasty (though a little pricey) and you cannot beat a bit of gluhwein to warm you up on a winters day. The wide variety of stalls helps with the christmas shopping, although it gets super busy on the weekends - so try and avoid it then.

This has been great in previous years and is back again this year and i cant wait - i am going to be spending alot of my lumchtimes there yet again. The choice and variety of food, drink and other items is great - things you dont see anywhere else. If you are coming to Birmingham shopping for a day over the festive period, make sure you leave time to come to the German Market!!

Very nice size market compared to other cities in the UK! Lots of german stall holders (not always christmas related! or cheap) as well as lots of british and other nationalities with stall.
Very multi cultural and some really nice gift ideas that you don’t think of.
Also nice beer and lots of different wursts!

If you are in Birmingham in early december you must visit the german christmas market. Some of the things are a little overpriced, but a cold beer outside the town hall with a german hotdog, waffles, and sweet chestnuts is a wonderful way to spend a day with friends. There is so much to see from food and drink to hand crafted german things and jewellery to clothes. Have really enjoyed myself here and have been back many times.

It’s really pretty, and great to add some sparkle to the season.

But, it’s expensive - I mean really expensive for what it is. Half the stall holders are not German, much of the produce is not anything to do with Germany or Christmas, it’s very very crowded and you are pretty likely to get your bag or purse stolen.

Still, this doesn’t stop me going each year and buying presents for family and friends :)

The german market is getting bigger every year, but what some people may not realise is the extension of the market is in fact the “British market”. For years the British market was placed in different areas of the city, and the council were always reluctant to place close to the German market, but after a lot of fuss and complaints from the British stall (many Brummies) holders, they are now tagged onto the German market and it has proved to be a huge success. Lets hope it stays….

the german markets is super packed, cold,miserable and the good on sale are overpriced junk, the market stall holders are not very friendly and the food is of poor quality and way way overpriced, lets have some traditional british markets for a change next christmas.