After being the first and only Christmas Market in the country to receive the ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction’ Rose Marque from national tourist board VisitEngland, organisers of this year’s Bath Christmas Market, Bath Tourism Plus, are now keen to expand on its reputation by announcing some new additions for 2013.

 

Set against the magical backdrop of Bath’s majestic Abbey and amongst the city’s quaint Georgian streets, the market is a very British take on the usual German Christmas market and showcases the best produce of Bath and the South West from  28 November – 15 December.

 

Hailed as ‘the biggest and most beautiful Christmas shopping event in the region,’ the 18-day event will be the most substantial yet, with over 150 traditional wooden stalls lining Bath’s central streets and squares. Offering an abundance of choice, 2013 will see over a third of the chalets being managed by new traders, each providing a variety of high-quality gifts and Christmas essentials such as decorations and locally produced festive food, with a strong emphasis on handmade, local and unique items.

 

Opportunities for local artists and craftspeople who currently have small ‘kitchen worktop’ style businesses will also be catered for at this year’s event.  Magically located on ‘Snowy Street’, a beautifully decorated, winter themed street, ‘micro-businesses’ will have the option to trade for short periods during this year’s market without the commitment of the full event. For visitors to the market this simply means they will get a surprise each time they visit, with stalls changing throughout the duration of the event – definitely an area not to be missed.

 

Another highlight this year is the opening night Holburne Lantern Procession, when a throng of local children will form a parade from the Holburne Museum, along Bath’s widest and stunning Great Pulteney Street, over the iconic Pulteney Bridge and through the Christmas Market.  Armed with their own handmade lanterns, the children will light up the streets as they march along celebrating the ‘feast’ of Christmas.

 

Always romantic and traditionally festive, with tempting fare and gentle entertainment befitting the time of year, the area around Bath Abbey will play host to choirs singing carols and talented solo musicians singing festive songs. 

 

And as an extra treat for shoppers this year, visitors to Bath Christmas Market have the chance to win a trip to visit Santa in Lapland by simply uploading a picture to a Facebook app.  More details are available online at bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

 

The market’s location, in the heart of the city, is perfect for visitors to enjoy all that the city has to offer – just steps away from the city’s train station, a wonderful mix of high street and designer shops, fascinating attractions and warm, inviting cafes and bars. 

 

The event always proves popular, last year attracting more than 350,000 visitors to the city over its 18 days duration.  Rooms are already beginning to fill up, with bookings being taken for the popular festive period.  To book accommodation during the dates of Bath Christmas Market (28th November – 15th December), and to order your event guide, visit bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

 

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

 

Bath Christmas Market Stalls

Bath Christmas Market boasts over 150 stalls for 2013 and each offers quality Christmas gifts and goods.  During the selection process, preference is given to locally made products and local businesses to bring a sense of locality and uniqueness to Bath’s market.  In an effort to keep the market’s offering fresh and inviting to the many loyal returning customers, the Christmas Market have refreshed the stalls this year with 1/3 of this year’s being new to the market. 

Here is a selection of highlights, many of which you will not find at any other Christmas Market…

 

Food

Orchard Pig: Ciders and orchard drinks made using apples ‘scrumped’ from Somerset orchards

Severn Cider Company: Severn Cider is an award winning family business, selling artisan whole juice ciders, perry, delicious hot spicy cider and hampers.

Bath Soft Cheese: Award winning, handmade organic cheeses from Bath.

Cheddar Gorge Cheese: Award winning traditional Cheddar made by hand and matured in cloth

Upton Cheney Chilli Co.: Bristol based chilli farm, making a range of delicious chilli sauces, jams and chocolate

The Chilli Hut: A delicious range of homemade chilli jams, sauces, oils, chocolates and spice mixes made from chillies grown just outside Bath.

Chatley Chocolate Brownies: Delicious packs of rich Chocolate Brownies, locally baked in Norton St Phillip.

Bath Cake Company: Beautiful, handcrafted Christmas cakes, cupcakes and biscuits, made with the finest ingredients in the heart of Bath.

 

The Chocolate Society: An artisan chocolate company based in Somerset using the finest ingredients.

The Potted Game Company: A modern twist on a traditional product - a unique range of products using wild game sourced from the British countryside. Based in Gloucestershire

 

Gifts & Decorations

Pearl River Trading: Jewellery, hand crafted in Bath, using the best quality freshwater cultured pearls.

Spotted Cow Creations: Unique gifts including handmade silk daisies that can make ever-lasting daisy chains - the perfect stocking filler

Speckled Wood: Etched decorations, gifts and art – a Bath based business

Somerset Lavender: A range of lavender gifts from lavender grown close to Bath

The Nutcracker: A fine collection of nostalgic, traditional German Christmas products – a Bath based business.

MyBearHands: handmade illustrated jewellery company populated by animals and characters with a narrative twist.

Rose Cottage Boxes: Handmade in Somerset from sustainable wood and skilfully decorated with stunning tissue paper. Finished with water based paints inside, Ideal for jewellery, makeup and crafts.

 

Tracey Louise Designs: Unique Christmas decorations handmade in South-West England using mostly recycled materials sourced from local charity shops.

Bits and Pots: Local glass, wood and ceramic artist Francesca Addabbo produces unique, cute and funky pieces from tree decorations to wall art. All handmade in Bath.

 

Kate Chidley: Original illustrations, prints, books and painted goodies, all created in Somerset.

 

Heaven Wrapped: natural plant wax candles in recycled glass using recycled packaging, created in Bradford on Avon.

 

For kids

Magic Miracles: boxed magic sets, company based in Bath

The Makery Emporium: craft kits by the popular Bath based The Makery

Animurials:  Pictures and clocks for little children that are refreshingly different, based in Somerset.

FairyGoodies: Local, family run fairy specialist offering unusual and affordable gifts that sparkle!

 

Even for pets!

Four Legged Fancies: Treats for dogs including their unique ‘Pup cakes’ – Bath based company

 

Bath Christmas Market

Bath Christmas Market 2013 will be operation for 18 days (28th Nov – 15th December).

 

Bath Tourism Plus is the company responsible for the marketing and operation of Bath Christmas Market, which attracts approximately 350,000 visitors per year to Bath. 

 

For more information about Bath Christmas Market, visit: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

 

Events and Attractions in Bath over the Christmas period

·         Bath on Ice: 22nd Nov – 5 Jan

·         Georgian Christmas at No1 Royal Crescent: 25 November – 15 December

·         Christmas at the American Museum: 28 Nov – 22 Dec

·         Alpine Lodge/Après Ski at the Abbey Hotel: 28 Nov – 20 Dec

·         Theatre Royal - Peter Pan Pantomime: 12 Dec – 12 Jan

·         Carols by Candlelight: 18-20 December

 

Bath Tourism Plus are always pleased to assist with visits from travel writers, and to work with our trade partners to consider promotional competitions alongside features about Bath Christmas Market.

 

For further information please contact Audra McSherry at Bath Tourism Plus: 01225 322434 or email: audra_mcsherry@bathtourism.co.uk

 

Bath Tourism Plus

Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy visitor information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk.  For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk.