When Ashford Designer Outlet announced it would be hosting its first-ever Christmas market, it sparked concerns it would draw festive trade away from the town centre.

But should business owners in the traditional high street really have cause for concern?

With promises of gourmet food and bespoke gifts, I made my way down to the shopping centre on a seasonably chilly Wednesday evening.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the nine stalls. Its bright lights create an understated but effective festive atmosphere, with the centrepiece Christmas tree towering over the market.

During a quick browse, I began to take in what was on offer, to the familiar sound of Wham (thankfully not Bublé).

The stalls were arranged in a semicircle, making good use of the slightly limited space available. They included personalised gifts, ornaments, cheese, and several hot food purveyors.

One vendor told me trade has been steady, but they felt there was room for improvement.

It wasn’t exactly the bustling crowds I had expected.

This perhaps speaks to the lack of variety on offer. Four stalls are offering hot food, two food-based gifts, and the remaining three ornaments, snowglobes and other personalised gifts.

However, future years may see further expansion.

I’m also certain the addition of Santa’s Grotto on Saturday will help draw larger crowds.

After a brief wander, I decided to indulge in some food. The enticing smells from the various vendors left me with a tough decision.

A stall offering the latest Christmas trend - a Yorkshire pudding wrap - promising hearty holiday flavours was intriguing, as was the traditional Bavarian sausage grill.

However, I decided to follow the crowds to Fully Loaded Fries after seeing several visitors wandering the centre with them in hand.

Standing in the queue, I considered several options, including Mexican, loaded with salsa, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, and a take on Italian with cheese and pepperoni.

I opted for Hunter’s chicken, drowned in barbeque sauce and topped with generous amounts of chicken and bacon.

The neighbouring stall, The Dessert House, offers a variety of sweet treats. A waffle coated in white chocolate sauce and Kinder pieces took my fancy.

I was charged a grand total of £17 for both, so the Christmas village may not be the place for penny-pinching, but you can’t argue with the portions or the taste.

What would have completed the meal would have been my first mulled wine of the festive season, but unfortunately, there was nothing on offer to fill that void.

However, I’m reliably informed that beer taps and warming spiced beverages will soon be on the menu at the Swing Grill.

Also, to my disappointment, there seemed to be nowhere to relax and enjoy my refreshments. Nearby Starbucks has outdoor seating - which several patrons had already claimed - but even if you do manage to bag a table, there’s still little protection from the elements.

As I searched for somewhere to perch, one patron joked about getting frostbite as she clutched her tea in both hands in an effort to keep warm.

Although the number of visitors increased during my time there, few stayed for long. Perhaps they were heading to the safety of the cars to escape the chill.

A spokesperson for the Outlet has confirmed this issue will be remedied, with additional seating available during peak times.

However, it must be remembered that this first voyage into Christmas events does have its perks.

There’s ample parking priced at £2.50 for four hours, or free if you arrive after 5 pm, meaning you can shop to your heart’s content and still have time to visit the stalls.

Even if you work outside of the town, you’ll have plenty of time to visit, with the centre open until 9pm Monday through Saturday and 6pm on Sundays, with many late-night shopping events also on the horizon.

It avoids issues that have hampered the nearby Christmas market at Canterbury Cathedral - the first in 200 years.

Overall, it's certainly a good start and worth a visit. Hopefully, the issues can be swiftly addressed so that many more can enjoy the festive fun.

Ashford Designer Outlet’s Christmas Village is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.