Nina Barbour, Managing Director of the stunning Bolesworth Castle.

First of all, tell us more about Bolesworth Castle...

Bolesworth is a dairy farming estate, located eight miles south of Chester, and is home to over 10,000 cows!

We are a family company, and have been here for over a hundred years. We have been running events since 2008.

The event site sits against the stunning backdrop of the castle.

What are you doing at the moment to prepare for Christmas?

Christmas at Bolesworth is a big part of our festive preparations as the whole event keeps going until Christmas Eve! My two dogs, Alfie and Flopsie, and my little boy, William, two, will be getting very excited this year – so we will be doing our last minute shopping at the Christmas market, as I am not a wellplanned shopper!

William and the dogs will be putting their stockings out for Christmas morning and the day itself will be about family time – with time spent in the stables making sure the horses feel a bit special, too.

Do you stick with traditional colours and decorations or do you like to mix it up?

We like to mix it up! You will see all colours of the rainbow here during Christmas at Bolesworth, but the light installations are designed to enhance the natural features of the park. This year the trail will circle the lake next to the castle and we will be doing some awesome water projections, along with a stunning light show on the castle itself.

Tell us an insider Bolesworth Christmas secret that nobody else knows...

Santa’s reindeer that visit Bolesworth actually belong to Charlie who supplies our loos on site all year round. You’ll be pleased to know they are treated like members of his family, and are very pampered throughout the Christmas experience, and the rest of the year when they get a bit of downtime!

What are your plans for the festivities this year?

As part of the light trail, we will have lots of interactive installations for the kids and our Xmas market will be bigger and better with a spectacular fairground, market stalls and food and drink.

We will have our exclusive domes available for groups of eight on Champagne Island, and a brand new lakeside Champagne bar. The event is completed by Santa and his magical grotto, and Rudolf and friends at Reindeers Rest.

It is a magical way to get in the festive mood!