Festive food for the family
KELLS LANE FOOD MARKET IS ALL SET TO ROUND OFF THE YEAR WITH A ‘TRADITIONAL’ CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. BARBARA HODGSON REPORTS
A TASTE of a traditional Christmas is being promised at the last Kells Lane Food Market of the year.
December’s edition of the event, which is held on the first Saturday of every month in the grounds of Kells Lane Primary School in Low Fell, will take on a thoroughly festive feel on December 2.
More than 40 traders are already lined up for the day which will see mulled wine and freshly-baked mince pies served up against a backdrop of Christmas carols.
Running fom 11am-3pm, it will be the first ever festive take on the popular market and organisers Elizabeth Hall and Sally Vleugels of Third Space Events, who also run The Staiths Food Market, are promising visitors a very traditional affair.
So, on top of the usual range of top quality North East food and drink on offer, the market will conjure up a magical atmosphere ensuring families can enjoy an array of festive sights, aromas and sounds as they wander stalls selling everything from hot chocolate and local ales to artisan gifts and Christmas wreaths.
And they will be made as cosy as they can be on the school yard site thanks to a new layout with sheltered seating and plenty of fleecy blankets available to borrow to ward off the chill.
Adding further cheer will be the likes of luxury hot chocolate, hot cider, carol singers and a visit from Santa.
On sale will be street food, such as hand-crafted burgers, stonebaked pizzas and Nepalese dumplings, alongside a variety of produce including local meats and cheeses; preserves; cakes and spirits while among the handpicked gifts on offer will be local scene prints; knitwear; vintage home furnishings; accessories and hand drawn cards.
Visitors also will have an opportunity to decorate their own winter wonderland scene on a Christmas bauble to take home for their tree.
Sally said: “Since opening in April, the market has gone from strength to strength. Elizabeth and I both live in Gateshead and we’re extremely proud to be able to bring this fantastic market to the area – it’s known as a popular market to bring a family.”
The idea of the ‘distinctively regional’ market is to celebrate the North East – where all its stallholder businesses are based – and to promote Low Fell, she added.
This time, she said: “We wanted to create a sense of a proper oldfashioned Christmas and the festive market is set to be a real show stopper to celebrate the end of our first year!”