'Thousands' turned away after private company books out Christmas market on a Saturday

Arm Holdings, a semiconductor firm, splashed out thousands to book Cambridge Christmas market for its staff and families.

The annual festive market is normally free to enter and open to the public.

Families can usually enjoy an ice rink, an alpine lodge bar and a Ferris wheel.

Arm staff were treated to carol singers, wreath making classes, a personalised Scalextric set and entertainment from illuminated dancing drummers and a juggling elf.

Meanwhile, security personnel turned away "thousands" of families at the gate.

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Craig Duncan, 54, a solicitor, had driven for two hours from Kent with his wife, Debbie, to celebrate her 52nd birthday.

"This would have been the highlight of her day," he told The Times.

"We had just had a lovely lunch and walked to the market entrance and thought ‘why are there all these raised voices and fingers wagging’.

"One woman said she took three trains to get there. She had three kids, all were distressed and crying because their mum was upset."

Mr Duncan said Arm should not have been allowed to book the market on such a busy day: "Who in their department thought of buying this on a Saturday afternoon? It’s elitism at its worst.

"Think about other people while doing it. You could have done it on Tuesday night or afternoon for employees if you love them that much and want to show off. Arm shouldn’t be allowed to buy Christmas.

"Days were ruined. It’s not in the spirit of Christmas, it’s the anti-spirit of Christmas."

Mr Duncan estimated that "thousands" of people would have been turned away.

Denise Richards, 62, got a two-hour train from Ruislip, London, for an “old girls’ weekend” with five friends, which they had planned together in June.

The ladies were turned away by security, who told them that the market was closed for a private party.

“It spoilt the weekend for us because that was the whole idea of going,” Richards said.

“We thought it was disgusting. When we looked in, the big Ferris wheel was not moving, no one was on helter-skelter or visiting the stalls. It’s selfish. There were more people outside wanting to get in than actually going in."

The event, run by Seventa Events, was given planning permission by Cambridge council in 2023.

The market offers hire for events hosting top to 3,500 guests. Packages start at £50 per person.

Seventa said the closure was advertised on its website.

A spokesperson said: “Christmas in Cambridge is an entirely privately funded event delivered at our own commercial risk. On Saturday we hosted a pre-booked family day, which sold out and brought the site to maximum capacity. While the market reopened to everyone that evening, we understand the disappointment of those who arrived during the daytime and couldn't get in.

"Bookings are an important part of how large public events are funded. We advertised the timings on our website, across social media, and on-site throughout the week, but we will continue to review our communication to ensure future notices are as clear and visible as possible.”

Katie Porrer, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cambridge council, told The Times she was “very concerned” and would be raising the matter with the Labour-run administration.

“Our understanding had been that the private event was taking place in a separate area and that, while access to the fair would be available to all attendees, this would not mean residents and visitors were excluded,” she said.

The council told the paper it was aware of Arm’s booking but would not disclose its “commercially sensitive” financial arrangements with Seventa.

A spokesperson from Arm Holdings said: "Arm has been proud to call Cambridge home for more than 30 years, and we care deeply about being a positive part of the community.

"Our annual holiday gathering is a long-standing tradition for our Cambridge employees; we engaged the organizers to plan the event months in advance and were not aware of any other conflicts. We remain committed to supporting a vibrant and welcoming Cambridge, both during the festive season and throughout the year."

Cllr Martin Smart, Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services, said: “The ‘Christmas in Cambridge’ winter entertainment offering on Parker’s Piece has proved highly popular this year and last, and it’s been great to see so many Cambridge residents and visitors to the city already enjoying it in the run-up to Christmas.

“The council was aware of the private booking for part of the day on Saturday 6 December. In line with the usual practice for private hire requests in our parks and open spaces, local councillors were notified in advance, and no objections were raised. The reduced opening hours for the general public due to Saturday’s booking were advertised well ahead of time on the operator’s social media channels and website and at the site itself.

“Private bookings play an important part of the overall operating model for large-scale events like these – indeed the operator ran a similar private-hire event last year. The event is privately funded and operated by Seventa, and the council’s understanding is that these bookings help offset costs so that entry can remain free to the public on standard operating days, activity prices are affordable and so that the council does not need to subsidise the event from its own core budgets.

“I look forward to seeing many thousands more people attending the attraction, which has already become a much-loved addition to the festive season, until the end of its current run on 31 December.”

It is understood that Arm Holdings engaged with the organisers of the market months in advance and the annual all-staff Christmas party had been a long-standing tradition for Cambridge employees.

LBC has contacted Arm Holdings and Seventa Events for comment.