St Enoch Christmas Market at St Enoch Square

I visited the St. Enoch Winter Wonderland on a Monday afternoon when it was not fully dark yet and it was not too busy. I had looked at the website in advance where it said the market was “fully accessible”. As many of us will know, that is not a very helpful assessment and I generally found the FAQs to be lacking. Getting around the market in my powerchair was easy enough, but many of the stalls were not easily accessible from a seated position or for anyone needing step-free access. The market had food and drink stalls as well as some stalls selling souvenirs. Other attractions were the “Solar Wheel” at the back of the square and the carousels for children on either side of it and a bar tent in the middle of the square. As you would expect, there was Christmas music playing in every stall and there was a live band in the bar tent. There was a large inflatable snowglobe where you could take pictures, but it did not have step-free access. The only attraction I engaged with was the Solar Wheel, which had a wheelchair accessible capsule. I enjoyed my time on the big wheel, but the experience of getting in and out of the cabin was quite stressful and it damaged my powerchair. The website advertises the Christmas market having accessible toilets, but the staff were not aware of the accessible toilets and a supervisor needed to be called in to provide information. I had trouble locating the toilet even after talking to several members of staff, only to find them inadequate. Someone, at some point of putting together the Winter Wonderland, had the thought that accessibility was something they needed to keep in mind. What I am wondering after visiting, though, is what they thought accessibility actually meant. Just because you can somehow get me and my wheelchair into a space – with lots of waiting, scarily steep inclines and rough handling that ultimately damaged my wheelchair – does not mean that the space is accessible. And that does not even take into consideration people with larger chairs, different mobility impairments or those whose disability is not related to mobility at all! The most widely used symbol for disability might be a person in a wheelchair, but I need everyone to understand that this only represents a small portion of disabled people. We are many, we are diverse and we deserve to have a good time when we go out, just like everybody else.

Very similar Market to George Street, though has no funfair rides and is smaller. In a horseshoe layout, this appeared to be as accessible and less congested than the Square. There was more width for powechair Access. There was an undercover area with a bar and seating, the only issue, although ramped a carpeted area made up of sections taped down, the ruffling of the carpet a trip hazard potentially. The food and drink on offer was particularly European in culture and preparation, the smells and the scents made it more interesting than a themed German Market. On sale were pottery, ceramics, pottery, picture and framed arts, jewellery, lighting and craft items. I did not see temp toilets p, but would assume the disabled and accessible toilets in the nearby Centre were immediately available. They are accessible by Radar Key, and there was a Euan’s Guide red cord info card in evidence. In the centre of the City within 5 minutes or less from Glasgow Queen Street, Central Stations and the underground, ample bus services, and car parking .

Christmas Markets are wheelchair accessible including the Bar area. Accessibility to stalls on one side of the markets due to there being a raised step and space restrictions within the stall, however staff are friendly and very helpful to facilitate people seeing their range of products. It would be advised to attend the Christmas markets at quiet times for example during the week to make for a more enjoyable day out. The Markets are in a good location for public transport and there is a car park behind St Enochs shopping center which is also wheelchair accessible.