December is finally here and while a lot of us are struggling to meet end of term deadlines, they will soon be over so take this as an opportunity to get an early start on all the festivities.
Not only has the National Ice Centre been transformed into a Christmas rink with fairy lights and decorations, but the Nottingham Christmas market is also back with a 40m Christmas tree right in the centre of town. New this year is the two-storey Victorian bar where you can enjoy festive food, mulled wine, cider, local ale and homemade hot Gluhwein.
At the food stalls you will be able to choose from Cadbury’s Christmas selection of hot chocolates with peppermint, caramel, whipped cream and much more. Among the Belgium frites, waffles and paella, our favourites were the German sausage stall which charges £4 for a sausage of your choice, a bun and all the fixings as well as the Poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes) stall that offers a choice of melted chocolate, nutella, syrup, fresh strawberries, bananas, marshmallows and whipped cream toppings starting from £2.50 for two.
If its gifts you are looking for, you won’t have to wonder far as there are a large variety of speciality stores selling jewellery, fairy lights, bags, accessories and other festive handicrafts. There are also, of course, a large range of chocolate dipped fruit, toffee apples, liquorice, candy floss, personalised gingerbread hearts and candy canes for you to share or indulge on your own. A highlight is the traditional fudge booth that sells every type of flavour from butterscotch, caramel and chocolate to cookie dough, rum & raisin, whiskey, smarties and chocolate banana swirl to name a few.
Also be sure to make a pit stop at the market’s new singing snowman to take a group photo while helping yourself to freshly roasted chestnuts. Feeling daring? Check out the North Star Flyer ride with a friend and see everything that Nottingham has to offer from 60m above the ground for £5!
If you’ve had enough of the cold and want to go somewhere warmer or would like to do a bit of shopping before you head to the market, take advantage of the extended Christmas store opening hours in Victoria centre which are from 9am-8pm on Monday-Saturday until the end of term.
For more information on all things Christmas happening in Nottingham before we break up, visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk for a full list of events.