“Walkin’ in a Winter Fes-ti-val!”

Ok not quite the lyrics but indulge me!

I love going to the Southbank, there’s always something going on, it’s vibrant and full of life. Every year around this time, we go to have a nose around the Christmas market and I do mean a nose – while you will find the odd trinket being sold, this is predominantly a food & drinkage affair

no complaints here!

This year Himself and I decided to go early so as not to be swarmed by all the crowds, but to our surprise, they have completely redone the layout meaning there is far less elbow bruises acquired when you leave – joy!

What a great start eh? Hello Mr. Toffee-Vodka! (I didn’t even know this was a thing!)

The stalls are jam-packed, this one was crammed full of chocolate fondue necessities (marshmallows, strawberries, apples etc..) and full-sized, ready to go home with you, Gingerbread Houses. I have to say – they weren’t a patch on my sisters homemade ones!

Each stall has a laser cut wooden panel for the facade, it makes each one unique and very pretty to look at too!

I was frog marched away from these stunning copper teapots as I was seconds away from asking how much they cost (just turf the scalding water out and gimme one!!) – yes they’re huge, but just look at them! Instead I settled with a steaming cup of mulled wine with brandy (not a bad swap in fairness!)

The fashion bit: Coat old, similar here | Scarf | Glasses old, but love here

I’d never had mulled wine with brandy before – conclusion? – to be repeated, please and thank you much!

The new spacious layout means that you’re not instantly warm once you arrive at the market anymore – the bodies are too spaced out, so I clutched my little cup with all my finger tips just to keep them from falling off while I was sans gloves!

With a graceful nod to Alice in Wonderland, these beauts were heralded as “the smallest bottle of Prosecco in the world”, as cute as the bottles were, I was already feeling the mulled wine & brandy combo – so on my empty tum, a dash of Prosecco might just have been a step too far!

Handmade soap anyone?

Comments earlier aside, it would’ve been rude not to try the hot chocolate! Himself had most of this, although I did have a little taste and let me tell you, it was worth the trip to the Southbank all by itself! Nom!

Rows and rows of mince pies and cherry bakewell tarts were stacked high with the former dusted with sweet icing sugar

LOOK AT HIM HE’S SO HAPPY! (yes the horse…)

The whole place was decorated with lights and decorations, it was very pretty and really had everyone in the Christmas spirit

My favourite part of the festival each year – eating Churros!!

(I am aware you can get them all year round, but I tend to only have them here, before Christmas – it’s become a bit of a tradition – leave me and my weirdness be!)

The chocolate was quite dark and heavy so I couldn’t manage much of it, but the churros themselves were absolutely gorgeous – light, fluffy with exactly the right amount of sugar and cinnamon

Nom nom nom!

I did share…..a bit!

I swear!

But Himself had a polish hot dog…because he was still hungry….

My favourite item of the day was the personalised Santa Sacks, they are full on awesome and there was a massive queue all day long to place orders – the two lads working the stall couldn’t catch a break bless them, every time we passed they were either cutting, stamping, hot sealing or doing out receipts!!

They had beautiful wooden tags there too which you could buy seperately

After making sure we hadn’t missed any stalls out and with a wave to Big Ben, we bundled up, leaving the warmth of the market and headed home with parcels under our arms feeling just a little bit excited for Christmas

OK – a lot excited!

Rxx