We go round the country, looking at molre Christmas markets around the country.
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00:00With Christmas right around the corner, we take a look at the Christmas markets around
00:09the country. Caitlin takes us around Glasgow's Winterfest, Ellie meets the traders at Newcastle's
00:13Christmas Village, Theo looks around the less known parts of the Manchester Christmas Market
00:17and James finds out people's favourite parts of what Cardiff has to offer.
00:21We are at the Christmas markets in George Square, they have just opened. We're going
00:26to go explore and show you around. It's the second year of Winterfest, we're going to
00:31go have some food, go on a few rides, see what happens. Come on!
00:36Let's get festive!
00:39So we've got obviously like traditional pieces, we've got the vintage carousel, we've got
00:44the wave swinger, these are the swings just behind us, we've got the giant wheel, and
00:49then we've got some thrill rides per se, we've got the booster max which is 60 metres high
00:54velocity speeds, that's good. And then we've got this rock tower, that's 80 metres tall,
01:00it's the only ride in the UK of this similar stature. I went on it twice on Sunday and
01:06it was phenomenal.
01:07So we're sitting here in the bar area with some mulled wine. In previous years, if I'd
01:18of mulled tonic wine in here, it was Eldorado I believe. Now I'm not sure if this is Eldorado
01:25again or Buckfast or anything but let me tell you, it's putting me in the festive spirit.
01:32So far it's been fantastic, we just went on the swings there, they were great, got a full
01:37view of it. There's the drop terrace, I don't know if we're brave enough to go on that.
01:42We might go on the big wheel and what else, we're going to try some of the food as well.
01:48Lots of good options.
01:50And then we've got some kids rides, a couple of kids rides in the corner and we've got
01:54loads of variations of stalls, we've got food, we've got crafts, we've got the bar, we've
02:00got the ice skating and then yeah, that's really us.
02:04So Celtic are playing Bruges today and all the Bruges fans have come here to make it
02:09their wee hub before the game. So they were all singing and dancing in the bar area but
02:15it was all a great laugh. All the fans were singing together weren't they so, it's all good.
02:22So these are the Christmas markets, right now we're on the Fennis wheel so this goes
02:26up, you get a great view of Glasgow at the top. We've been on the swings, we've had a
02:32look about, we've had a drink, a wee mulled wine since it's Christmas after all. You see
02:39this thing here, I don't think we're quite brave enough to go in that, nor the bomber.
02:44I think the swings are enough for us.
02:52So yeah, no it was great, I think the company that are behind it have really found their
02:57feet this year, it's their second year doing it so I think there's a lot more, there's
03:03a bit more variety in everything. You can come here and not spend a lot of money as
03:06well, there's a lot of entertainment, live music, that kind of thing. So yeah, no it's
03:11a great, great wee market.
03:14It looks like Caitlin had a great time in Glasgow, even if she didn't take on the tower.
03:18Now to Ellie and the storeholders in Newcastle.
03:21So where is it all handcrafted, do you do it yourself or is it?
03:25Yeah you can put these bags into radiators and you can use them anywhere in your bedroom
03:31or in your kitchen.
03:33What have you got for sale?
03:35Okay hi, so I'm Sue from Firebrick Brewery, we've got a wide range of craft ales, lagers,
03:41we've got stouts, they're all gluten-free, they're all vegan as well and when you get
03:47them you can get them in these different gift boxes and it's like an adult picker mix,
03:50so you can pick one of the different types of boxes. We've got the glasses as well,
03:55we've also got our mystery cans, so if you're stuck for your secret Santa this year,
03:59just come and get one of those, you don't even need to think about it.
04:02This week it's all tailored for Christmas, generally I make tables, I make chopping boards,
04:07anything I would but for the Christmas market obviously I've made everything for Christmas.
04:13So how does it feel to be part of the Christmas markets then?
04:15Yeah it's nice, I mean I know quite a few traders anyway, because we all trade at different
04:20places together.
04:21You're getting to be their neighbours for a little bit.
04:23For a little bit, in a warmer area.
04:26In a warmer area?
04:27It's not usually this warm in gazebos.
04:29My name's Simon, I own Crumble Pots, so we're a Newcastle Christmas market selling sweet
04:33and savoury crumbles.
04:35So we do your traditional crumbles, kind of apple, rhubarb ones you'd know, but then we
04:38also do a savoury crumble which is like a roast in a pot, with a sage and onion crumble
04:43on top, little pig in blanket, mashed potato, cranberry sauce, all in a nice little pot.
04:47So it's just Christmas in one.
04:49It is, yeah, people sometimes look at the savoury crumble and they're like, oh what's
04:53that? But then they try it and the crumble kind of mixes with the gravy, turns out it's
04:56like a stuffing, and once they've had it, they see the savoury side, yeah, yeah.
05:00I think if you put gravy with anything, it'll all taste good.
05:03Exactly, yeah, people will love it, exactly, yeah, yeah.
05:06To finish the tour off, I went to try some food.
05:09I think I needed some fuel after all that chatting, and what's better than some German
05:13cuisine to warm you up?
05:15So, are you a local business, or?
05:18Yes, we're actually, it's Crow Events that owns this grill tower, and they're based in
05:23North Allerton, but they also do other events, they run the Hoppins as well.
05:30Oh, really? So is this usually in the Hoppins?
05:32No, this one was made when, it got ordered and made for when the Christmas market went
05:37up Northumberland Street, so it's only used for this Christmas market.
05:41We've got another one that goes to the Hoppins, it's a windmill.
05:44Oh, so this is exclusive to Newcastle Christmas Market?
05:47It is, yes, and it was made for Newcastle Christmas Market.
05:51So do you always serve German sausages?
05:55Yes, always German sausages, there's two kinds, we do bratwurst and crackow,
05:59one's a smoky, spicy sausage, the other one's a plain sausage.
06:03It's good, there's a good atmosphere, it's better when the weather's nice.
06:07Thanks Ali, that Christmas dinner crumble sure sounds intriguing.
06:11Next up, it's Theo, who's trying to do Manchester's King Street Market on a budget of £15.
06:16So it won't be long after you enter the King Street Market that you come across
06:19the Sicilian street food stall, and I'm a big lover of Italian cuisine,
06:23so obviously immediately I was tempted into it.
06:27There's a great range of options and some coffee there as well, so this is what I went for.
06:31So it's Bellaro that I've gone to, which is a Sicilian street food stall,
06:35it's got classic arancinis, I've been recommended the spicy one, so that's what I've gone with.
06:39I'm a sucker for a recommendation, and the special pizza, which is a sort of garlic cream,
06:43mushroom, some sort of cheese on there as well, and some sausage, so it all looks great.
06:47I'm excited to give it a try, they do also have coffee,
06:50but the coffee machine's broken currently, so that gives me an extra £4.50 to spend.
06:55Thank you very much mate, cheers.
06:57It's interesting.
07:00That does look good.
07:03The one negative you can point at the Christmas market is that there is
07:05nowhere to stand at all, so I've perched next to a sort of electrical box, I think.
07:11So this is a close-up of the food, and you can immediately tell just how good the quality is.
07:15Like I say, it's all authentic Sicilian street food, and you really got that from it.
07:20The pizza had a crispy base on the bottom, but was still floppy,
07:23the nice smoky flavour from the cheese, and the arancini was the perfect level of spiciness.
07:28Now I'm going to finish those, but I set myself a budget of £15, and these two were only £10.50,
07:34which is ridiculous because I'm pretty full already.
07:36I'm going to see if we can find a drink or a dessert or something like that for £4.50
07:39in this part of the market.
07:40Now the thing with the Christmas markets is sometimes social media can just pick up a place
07:44and give it a ton of hype, and this chicken and waffle place had that.
07:46But if you don't want to queue for ages, places like Bolero are a perfect alternative option.
07:51Now with an extra £4.50 in my pocket, I thought,
07:54what better to do at the Christmas markets than have half a beer?
07:56As with most of the drinking places that you find in the markets,
07:59there's a charge for having a cup, but you can get that back by returning it.
08:02So this cost me £5.50 up front, I get £2 back in cash if I return the cup.
08:06Seems like a good deal, and what I've just done is,
08:09as of right now, I've spent £16.
08:11I will have spent £14 on a pretty substantial meal and half a pint of lager.
08:16I don't think you can complain.
08:17And look, this is going to be a three-minute video by the end,
08:19and we're only just going to have covered the King Street area.
08:22There really are so many things to do at the Manchester Christmas markets.
08:25I know it's been said before, and I feel like I've proven in this video
08:28that you can eat there on a budget as well.
08:29Not everything has to be massively expensive.
08:32So there's tons of great options from cannoli to fudge to garlic potatoes to candles
08:37to other sort of memorabilia and merchandise.
08:40Do come down, really think about giving it a go, and don't just be led by social media.
08:45If you've not already, come down, try out the Christmas markets.
08:48King Street, I can heavily recommend, but everywhere you go, you'll find something fun.
08:53Well, he managed it with a pound to spare,
08:55and the things they've got to offer there look amazing.
08:58Let's see how Cardiff compares as James asks the residents themselves their favourite parts.
09:03We wanted to know what people's favourite things about Cardiff at Christmas time are,
09:06and most people said the same thing.
09:09I love Winter Wonderland so much.
09:12I think I go there every year with my uncle and then my dad.
09:17What is it you like about Winter Wonderland?
09:18Ice skating.
09:21I love ice skating so much.
09:23Even though I made four, once or twice, but I get back up and yeah, trying to continue.
09:29It's a very good atmosphere.
09:30Yeah, especially Winter Wonderland.
09:33And in the castle itself, there's an amazing festival of colour and music and good food.
09:42Yeah, so that's really good.
09:43And so Cardiff's pulling out very well in that respect.
09:47So yeah, it's a nice place to be.
09:49Yeah, it's quite a decent city for Christmas.
09:52Obviously, there's not much decorations around here, as you can see.
09:55A few shops have got a few things, but they need to do a bit more.
09:59Obviously, in the night, they've got the stalls and stuff in the centre of it.
10:05They've got the Christmas music on and stuff.
10:07But I think once Winter Wonderland's proper open up and it's busy,
10:10I think it'd be a bit more Christmassy.
10:12Yeah, just the city, just the atmosphere in the city,
10:18the lights and a lot of people and excitement and stuff like that.
10:23Just general atmosphere, I suppose.
10:25Yeah, because it brings people into the city and engages with the community.
10:29So it just brings other people in from other places and connects us as a city.
10:35Winter Wonderland might be the jewel in the crown for Cardiff at Christmas time,
10:38and every year it attracts thousands of people to the city centre.
10:42The Ferris wheel is back and like the last few years,
10:45now spans across the green in front of the city hall and across to the castle,
10:49which hosts the ice skating rink.
10:51There's food, drink, music, open fires ready to toast marshmallows, rides and plenty more.
10:56It's the big main event in the city centre,
10:59and there's no doubt plenty of you out there right now
11:02will either have already been or looking to visit Winter Wonderland soon.
11:06Of course, the centre of Cardiff is a shopping hotspot over Christmas,
11:09the late night shopping, the St David's Centre and around the High Street.
11:13But more than that, the Christmas market is back.
11:16It always ranks among the best in the country with gifts,
11:19drinks, food and Welsh themed goods.
11:22It requires stallholders to sell things either made in or with things from the local area.
11:27It is definitely one of the best places in Cardiff and maybe even the rest of Wales
11:32to get those perfect Christmas gifts for whoever you're looking for.
11:37Cardiff is awash with Christmas and there's plenty to be looking for.
11:41So whenever you're up for this Christmas,
11:43Cardiff will definitely give you just what you need.
11:47Well, I hope you've enjoyed our whistle-stop tour of the country's Christmas markets.
11:50And if it's got you in the festive mood, maybe you'll pop along to your local market.