Bristol, November 2015: Bristol is a great city to visit to get into the festive spirit: the German Christmas market is already open, as is At-Bristol's open-air ice rink, with plenty more seasonal activities to come. To make the most of all that's on offer, The Bristol is encouraging visitors to the city to stay another day with the launch of a “Breakfast with our Compliments” package that also includes a free cocktail. Prices start from just £89 for two people sharing a double room.

The 38 traditional chalets of the German Christmas market, which is located in Broadmead, are decorated with festive greenery and colourful lights, while the Christmas nativity Pyramid, giant advent calendar and beer gardens combine to create a very seasonal atmosphere right in the city's pedestrianised shopping area. Traditional German Christmas decorations, lights, nativity scenes and gifts, including wooden toys, baskets, soaps, lamps and amber jewellery are just a few of the items to be found, alongside delicious festive food and drink including gluhwein, bratwurst, waffles, liquorice, stollen cake, gingerbread hearts and candied fruit.

Science centre At-Bristol has already transformed Millennium Square (a few minutes' walk across Pero's Bridge from The Bristol) into a winter playground, with a huge ice skating rink next to the giant bauble that is the At-Bristol 3D Planetarium. Nothing feels more festive than the exhilaration generated by gliding over the ice on a dark winter's evening, cheeks made rosy by the cold, with the promise of a complimentary cocktail at The Bristol to warm the cockles.

And there's more to come later in November and into December.

Celebrating its 6th year, Bristol's Local Christmas Market returns to Broadmead from 4 to 23 December with a “Made in Bristol” theme. Twenty colourful wooden chalets manned by independent producers, artists and fair trade specialists will be tempting browsers with a wide array of festive treats, food, drink and gifts, such as high quality local cheeses & ciders, craft beers, Christmas cakes and patisserie, handmade chocolate, fudge, jams, affordable art and prints, unique handmade jewellery, Bristol books, recycled glassware, organic soya candles and lots more.

From 28 November to 6 January, Bristol's award-winning and most popular visitor attraction SS Great Britain plays host to a Dickensian wonderland, onboard the most extraordinary time-machine. Clifton, with its many boutiques and independent shops, is worth a visit to see its beautifully lit 50ft Christmas tree and Bristol will also play host to a large number of unique festive events, from enchanted Christmas evenings at Bristol Zoo Gardens (18 to 20 December) to A Jazz Christmas Carol on 17 December and Carols by Candlelight in Bristol Cathedral on 18 December. Take a look at the Visit Bristol website for full details.

And then there's the panto – what would Christmas be without panto?!  This year, the Bristol Hippodrome, located just a few minutes' walk from The Bristol, is staging Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs from 5 December to 3 January 2016. TV and film star Warwick Davis heads up the cast as head dwarf Prof, with CBeebies star Andy Day (Andy's Dinosaur Adventures) as Muddles and Hippodrome panto comedy favourite Andy Ford returning as the Henchman. An overnight stay at The Bristol means you won't have to miss this spectacular performance with music, dance, sumptuous sets and costumes, and a laugh-a-minute script.

The Bristol's “Breakfast with our Compliments” package includes overnight accommodation for two in a double room, complimentary breakfast and a complimentary cocktail each in The Shore Café Bar, as well as free Wifi, entry to the residents-only gym and parking in the NCP car park right next door to the hotel. Rates start from £89 and the package can be booked via The Bristol website.

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Notes for Editors
The Bristol Hotel is located in the heart of the city, between the historic cobbled Narrow Quay and elegant Queen Square, just a few minutes' walk from major cultural landmarks such as The Bristol Old Vic, Arnolfini, Watershed, SS Great Britain and M Shed, as well as the shopping district of Broadmead.

The Bristol Hotel has 187 rooms and suites, which are among the largest and most luxurious in the city.  All of the rooms have been completely restyled, refurnished and re-equipped in the last few years, with the deluxe rooms and juniors suites having additional luxuries such as media hubs and Nespresso coffee machines.

The Bristol Hotel is housed in a distinctive 1960s building, recognised as a prime example of the Modern architectural movement.

For more details, please visit the website: www.doylecollection.com/bristol

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For more details, hi res images and/or to book a review visit, please contact:

Sue Heady
Heady Communications
T: 01608 651 692 / 078 5595 0705
E: sue@headycommunications.com