Night had fallen by the time my train from Cardiff pulled into Bath Spa station.
Gave me a chance to appreciate our Christmas illuminations as I walked up through town to unlock my bike and cycle home.
It was great to see our Christmas Market in full swing, in this its 25th year, but why did l get the feeling the city wasn’t quite as well ‘lit-up’ as it normally is at this time of year?
There is no overhead lighting in Milsom Street, and only the West Front of Bath Abbey appeared to be illuminated.
Abbey Church Yard finds the Christmas tree surrounded by little in the way of festive lighting support.
I am sure the market space between the Abbey, Roman Baths and the old information centre used to be more colourful in terms of projected lighting – as was Abbey Green.
Further up Cheap Street looked just cheap.
SouthGate Shopping Centre has the benefit of being cared for by private ownership and sparkled with lights.
It also – last night – allowed me to watch a natural celebration of an early winter’s night – but more of that elsewhere.
Do you know – if l were giving out an award for the most impressive display in the centre of our city, it would have to go to Mallory’s the jewellers. Lit up like a Bridgwater Carnival float!
I have approached B&NES for comment. No reaction, l am afraid.
Maybe it’s just me? What do others think?
The councils are struggling financially. Just look at the state of the roads. I would rather they fixed the millions of potholes ruining our cars, than spent the money on more lights, and then also consequently, even bigger electricity bills. Otherwise we will have yer another big council tax increase. Everyone is struggling financially. Sometimes practical decisions have to be made. And the lights look pretty as they are 😊
I do miss the Mallory’s displays that were projected from the shop opposite – outlines of various kinds of jewellery and seasonal messages in different languages. The changing sequence went on for about 10 minutes.
However it’s not quite right that the Market is in its 25th year, since it didn’t happen in 2020 or 2021. (I was at the opening service in Bath Abbey where it was also described as the ’25th anniversary’ year – also wrong, that’s next year! – and it was implied that the foot-and-mouth outbreak was in 1999.)
I agree about Mallory’s decorations, they are lovely and classic and I enjoy them every year, especially Father Christmas on the roofs top, in good taste and not ‘ naff’!
I felt quite depressed walking through the city centre, In dread to think what visitors think.
Well done Bath BID for their help but a City centre without Christmas lights ! Dear oh dear.
So disappointing this year. Just a few florescent bulbs in garish colours. People come to Bath for a traditional Christmas Market and the decorations used to be special. We used to take the children into town to look at the decorations, nobody would bother now.