A downtown overhaul has cast a shadow over the street food market in central Manchester.

Vendors will have to dismantle their kitchens as Piccadilly Gardens is redeveloped. The market closes for the final time on 22 October.

Traders have been offered a place at Lincoln Square for this year's Manchester Christmas Markets, which run from 6 November to 22 December.

For some traders, the move is an abrupt disruption to custom built up over years. Falafel King has traded at Piccadilly Gardens for a decade.

Some traders have told the Manchester Evening News they are concerned the new site will not suit their needs, and that it could be quieter than one of the city's busiest spots.

Beyond 22 December, plans remain unclear. Traders gave different ideas of when, or whether, they would reopen at Lincoln Square in 2027.

Manchester City Council says it has promised traders a suitable new location in the longer term, and that it understands their uncertainty until it can confirm detailed arrangements.

Sources: Manchester Evening News; BBC News; Manchester City Council: Christmas Markets 2026. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked by an editor against the sources above.