Afte rbranding Maldon’s festive fayre “a shambles”, businesses are hoping to resurrect the town’s popular Victorian evenings.

Last Thursday’s Christmas Fayre came under fire after only the top end of the High Street was lined with stalls, prompting criticism from shopkeepers at the lower end.

Maldon Pie and Mash sparked a fierce debate after posting the following on its Facebook page: “Big well done to the organisers of this year’s lame Maldon Christmas Fayre.

“Did you forget about the other 75 per cent of the High Street?”

After a flood of comments, the conversation then turned into a discussion about how traders themselves could stage a Victorian evening next year, prompting several to throw their hats in the ring.

Heybridge financial advisor Brian Brotherton, 59, who was among those to put himself forward, said: “There is a groundswell of local traders to take on the Victorian evening ourselves."

 

See the MBS for the full story.