Plans for a Christmas market at the new Station Hill district are to go ahead despite a fire that tore through a construction site on Thursday, November 23.

Just one day before the major fire, which saw a heroic crane driver save a worker from the top of a burning building while ambulance crews took at least two to hospital for smoke inhalation, the owners of an apartment complex, situated nearby announced a Christmas food market.

On Wednesday, November 22, Reading’s Ebb & Flow apartments at the new Station Hill district announced their first-ever Christmas food market.

Set to take place on Saturday, December 9, Ebb & Flow outlined how they will host a number of local businesses in partnership with Caversham’s Food Stores, which will bring its already established Christmas market to the luxury apartment complex in Reading’s town centre.

The market will primarily be situated in Ebb & Flow’s indoor social spaces, with select stands found in the accompanying outdoor courtyard, and will be open to the general public as well as residents of Ebb & Flow.

Plans include a variety of stalls – from local gins to sweet treats, plus homeware and gift ideas.

A festive VIP lounge will be open to Ebb & Flow residents, where they can enjoy mulled wine and mince pies whilst browsing the market’s selection of indoor stalls.

Meanwhile, a festive bar will be established in the courtyard, providing additional drinks choices alongside a mulled wine stand to get visitors in the festive mood.

Live music including a local choir hopes to provide a traditional Christmas soundtrack.

On announcing the market, Tony Bullen, Ebb & Flow’s community manager, said: “When we first started planning Ebb & Flow, we always had a vision for hosting community events not just for residents, but for the town’s locals, too.

"Reading’s town centre has lacked an independent Christmas market for several years, and we always had a vision to give something back to the local community.

"We hope this market will be the first of many communal events we host for the local area in the months and years to come, and would love to invite as many local Reading residents to join us to celebrate the festive season.”

Ebb & Flow’s Christmas market is planned for Saturday, December 9, from 3pm to 9pm.

The site can be found at 3 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1HR. 

Ebb & Flow have confirmed the market will still take place.