Every year, Broad Street is transformed during the festive season, with lights, decorations, a Christmas tree and stalls selling food and drink.
The market stalls are run by Peaks Catering, which sells food and drink to customers from mobile huts and trucks.
The Christmas market entry on the Visit Reading website states: “It’s back… and bigger, brighter and tastier than ever! Head to Broad Street’s Christmas Market for sizzling bratwurst, gooey toasted marshmallows, waffles, crepes, giant cookies and all the festive snacks you can dream of.
“Grab a gluhwein (or something stronger from the bar), pick up some quirky gifts, and let the smell of roasted chestnuts and Christmas carvery pull you through the twinkling stalls. Warning: you might just leave jingling all the way home.”
Ahead of the market being set up on Saturday, November 14, the company applied for a licence to sell alcohol and host live music from Reading Borough Council.
The application represented an expansion of activities, as a previous licence in place since 2022 did not include live music.
The new licence allows the company to host live music from 10am to 9pm each day, and play recorded music and sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm throughout the week as well.
Peaks Catering was granted the licence after no one objected during a consultation on the application that ended on October 22.
