The jacket potato stall that drew large queues at Liverpool Christmas Market will not return this year, its operator has confirmed. Spud Man, whose real name is Ben Newman, said he will instead set up at Cardiff Winter Wonderland.
The stall was a collaboration between Spud Man and John The Spud, a Liverpool trader. Spud Man, who has four million social media followers and has been endorsed by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, had run a successful pop-up at the Bus Yard in Crosby earlier in the year.
Move to Cardiff
Liverpool Christmas Markets reopen on Saturday, November 21, but Spud Man will not be present. In a video shared on Instagram, he said: "Big up to my Welsh followers, Spudman here. We're coming to Cardiff in two days. Well, we're going on Tuesday, setting up on Wednesday and opening on Thursday."
He added: "Oh, do you want some times? Do you want some information? Right, Thursday the 12th, opening day, we're open from 5pm until 10pm. Then on Friday, we're open from 1pm, Saturday from 11am and Sunday from 11am. I'm going to be there all of those days, flinging potatoes. I'm excited."
New operator and changes
The market will return to St George's Plateau for 2026, with Underbelly taking over as operator. The global events company, which manages Christmas in Leicester Square and Christmas in Trafalgar Square, has confirmed several changes.
The markets will run from Saturday, November 21 until Sunday, January 3, 2027, marking the first year the event has not ended before Christmas. A spokesperson for Underbelly said the bar offering is new rather than a return from previous years, with bars named Snowed Inn, Bar Humbug and On the Piste confirmed so far.
Attractions and installations
On the Piste will host much of the live music programme and karaoke, while The Snowed Inn will host DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights. The site will include a large illuminated LIVERPOOL installation on St George's Hall and two giant neon Liver Birds wearing ice skates at the Lime Street entrance.
Children's Christmas books supplied by the library will be displayed within the Dickensian-themed Bar Humbug, alongside colouring sheets. At the centre will be a 675-square-foot ice rink, and Skate St George's will feature more than 40 food, retail and games traders. Liverpool Christmas Market attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year.
