Roll up, roll up! It’s the final market of the year – and what a year it has been. Buzzards Valley is heading directly towards the 2nd Christmas Artisan Market, and it’s looking bigger than ever.
So what can we expect?
Mountains of tempting treats
The beauty of the Buzzards Valley Market is that the businesses are all local – which means the majority of the food is produced with locally sourced ingredients. So, you know it’s handmade home produce, with the emphasis on quality and taste.
There are the regulars, including Hunnypot Cottage, purveyor of artisan breads and a member of the Real Bread Campaign, with her delicious Christmas stollen, made with homemade candied fruit peel and marzipan.
Woodhouse Farm will have their fresh produce, seasonal veg, free range eggs and free range pork – everything you need, in fact, for a delicious Sunday roast or to fill the freezer ready for those Christmas parties. Karen in a Jam is another regular, and we think her jars of chutney will make a fantastic addition to the Christmas dinner.
There’s so much choice, we can’t mention everyone – like Kneals Chocolate (stocking fillers?) or Hibiscous Grove (Sunday night curry). Snack on your way around with pancakes, scotch eggs and olives – and remember to try a taster or two of Buzzards Valley’s own wines and gin. Honestly, we think you should visit just for the food.
Tables of gifts galore
Are you feeling just a little bit bored of wandering the shops and looking at the same old stuff, year after year? Mass produced plastic, designed to just fit your Christmas shopping tick list. That’s just one of the reasons you need to pop on down to a market where every gift is crafted by local businesses.
The perfect gift for a grandparent who has everything? How about a personalised bauble from the children that they will rehang on the tree year after year? Sounds good doesn’t it? Get yours from JCK Design, along with a mini frame and personal verse for your friends.
Keen and son will be showcasing their latest handcrafted fine wood and resin pens, which are as artistic as they are practical, and The Crafty Hoarder has a selection of personalised Christmas crates and stocking tags. Revamp an old lamp with bespoke shades from The Rose Cupboard, and have a mooch through the gifts in Edith’s Attic.
A proper Christmas fanfair
Wandering through the gifts and picking the perfect stocking filler wouldn’t be the same without some festive feeling. We do love our live music at the Artisan Fair, and last month we had a fabulous sax player to serenade us. To keep up the Christmas spirit – yes, there will be mulled wine too – we’ll have more live music, carols and the chance to win a Christmas hamper. Who knows, we may even have a visit from a very special guest!
Phew. There’s so much to see, and we know you don’t want to rush through your Christmas gift choices – we’ve decided to stay open for an extra hour as well. We’ll see you there – Sunday 9th December for a very Merry Christmas Market.