This year's Chester Christmas Market will boast pre-Covid numbers of stalls, alongside its youngest ever trader.

On November 19, the annual festive market returns to Town Hall Square, featuring an array of local producers and artisans.

Market manager, Kyna Lydon, revealed to Nub News that this year's market is back to its maximum capacity of 80 stalls - something that hasn't been feasible since before Covid. 

Highlighting further changes, such as increased light displays over the market, she added: "This year we are really emphasising how festive we can make the market feel.

"We have a large selfie station in the form of Santa's sleigh that families can come and sit and take their own photos in in a market to make good use of the space."

Also new to this year's line-up is the market's youngest ever trader. 

At just 18 years old, the founder of JD 3D Printing will sell a range of 3D toys, calendars, fidget spinners and more. 

"We are really proud to bring on our youngest trader ever, of the ripe old age of 18," Kyna added.

"He's really, really impressive. His name's James and he runs a business called JD 3D Printing and he's Cheshire based. We're really looking forward to having him on board as part of our market family."

Each year, the market focuses on showcasing local traders, with over 75% of this year's storeholders being Cheshire or North Wales based. 

Festive gifts on offer will include handmade pottery, tableware and garden ornaments by Josh Johnson Ceramics, candles and diffusers by The Cheshire Candle company, alongside handmade body products, cold pressed soaps and shaving bars by Omeda Crafts.

There is also eye-catching tie-dyed clothing and socks by SOX, alongside silver jewellery created by the mother and daughter duo behind Roccabella jewellery.

Kyna added: "We've always strived to be as local as possible. 

"We want it to be local artisan craft traders, not mass produced that you can find all over the country."

The market manager also pointed to the intentional variety of the offering, stating each one of the stalls offers something different - from local, wax-sealed cheeses to handmade fudge, locally-brewed gin and beers, silver jewellery, candles and skin care.

"Every one of our stores is different," she said.  

"We really try to limit what crafts we bring on because it gives the best visitor experience but also it gives our traders the best chance as well.

"We have only two candle stores on the whole of our market and they are brilliant and again they're both Chester-based candles."

In line with the market's focus on sustainability, this year it will introduce festive mugs for the first time, in a bid to reduce the amount of disposable cups used throughout the space. 

Kyna added: "We really wanted to focus on how we can help our impact on the environment with what we do on the market. 

"We're very conscious of our green ethos and the mugs will really help negate the amount of disposable cups that are around the market. It also cuts down on waste in general and people get a wonderful memento should they choose to keep them."

For more information on the Christmas market, you can visit here.