People have been taking to social media site TikTok to complain about the prices of the food in this year's Edinburgh Christmas Market. The popular annual event is a highlight of the winter calendar in the capital.
But, while many have been complaining about the long queues, the culinary costs have been cause for concern with some visitors, reports Edinburgh Live. One visitor called Abbie took to TikTok to show her followers what she and her friend spent - with it being described by some as "robbery".
Abbie claimed she paid £22.50 for two tickets for the wheel and £15 for two portions of the market's popular mini pancakes. However, on the Edinburgh Winter Festival website, it says an adult can book a single ticket for the Big Wheel for £10.
In the video Abbie shows what she bought along with the caption: "All whilst being packed like sardines". The market has indeed been exceptionally busy this year, with lengthy queues snaking around Waverley Bridge and reports of people waiting up to an hour to get in.
The organisers have recently said that with only six weeks to prepare, due to a last-minute change in contracts, they were not able to provide everything they had hoped for. They also said they would take any feedback into consideration for future plans.
Here's what Abbie and her friend said she bought and paid for during their trip to the market - in total spending an eye-watering £65.50.
- Mini pancakes £7.50 each
- Chipsticks £7 each
- Tea/Coffee £3 each
- Currywurst and chips £8
- Forth 1 Big Wheel £11.25 each
One viewer simply said: "Robbery." Another said: "£7 each for a tattie on a stick??" To which Abbie replied: "I know, I was gobsmacked."
A third tagged her friend and added: "Scared for our bank accounts." And another commented: "I ended up spending £19 for two crepes!"
A spokesperson from the organisers Unique Events said: "There is a wide range of festive food and drink offering across the stalls at the Christmas Market, SantaLand in West Princes Street Gardens and the Lidl on Ice Experience on George Street.
"Visitors can enjoy everything from curry to hot smoked salmon, pizza to pancakes, German sausages to loaded fries and a wide range of sweet treats - there is something to suit every taste and every pocket, EH postcode residents can also enjoy a 20 per cent discount on all ticketed attractions to help spread some festive cheer.”
Unique Events also said they welcome feedback and adjust the market's offerings where necessary while taking suggestions for future plans.
Speaking about the feedback, UniqueAssembly, Producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas, said: “We were delighted to see so many visitors joining us as soon as we opened on Friday, enjoying the traditional Christmas Market and Santa Land in East and West Princes Street Gardens and also the new Lidl on Ice in George Street over the weekend.
"Edinburgh’s Christmas is an extremely popular attraction, of which the Christmas Market is only one part, bringing in visitors from across the City and further afield and some areas can be busy at peak times, especially over the weekends.
"We are delighted that we have been able to rescue this year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas plans at short notice but with only six weeks preparation time from taking over the Edinburgh’s Christmas contract to opening our doors this weekend, it was not possible to include everything we dreamed of for this year.
"We do, of course, welcome all feedback and are continuing to monitor and adjust where necessary for this year and take suggestions into consideration for future plans”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Strep A death toll now feared to be eight children as school confirms 'devastating' loss
Manager of Scots nursery where child was burned by bleach and boiling water allowed to keep job
Police Scotland training school to close amid Legionnaires' disease concerns
Scots OAP with Alzheimer's suffers hypothermia after getting lost while walking his dogs
Terminally ill OAP left without washer and dryer after signing up for government-funded scheme
