Want to achieve Christmas with the inexpensive decorations? Want to decorate your house from head to toe? With shopping in the right places this can be done! All through Lincoln high street this year many stores have expanded their range of fabulous decorations, at all different costs, that are for your tree, while including outdoor decorations to make your house sparkle. from Primark and Asda to Debenhams and John Lewis, there is something for everyone. GRAB THEM TODAY!!
Since its humble beginnings in 1982 with only 11 stalls, Lincoln’s traditional German Christmas Market has thrived and is now more than twenty times its original size. With the cancellation of last year’s market due to bad weather conditions, Lincoln’s 2011 Christmas Market is back and raring to go, Holly Parker, Events Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “We are hoping the market will attract more than the previous years record of 150,000 people over the course of the weekend.”
The Christmas market in full swing
With over 250 stalls are filled with a variety of hand made jewellery, wooden toys, hand painted glass, ceramics, photographs and local art there’s bound to be something for everyone. If you are looking to find unique and quirky Christmas gifts for your friends and family you can be sureyou’ve come to the right place! Or how about just treating yourself to a bottle of fine wine made in Lincoln’s twin town Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in Germany.
This year the streets will not only be filled with stalls but by the Chapterhouse Theatre Company and Lincoln Mystery Plays, performing some of our much loved traditional stories, such as Christmas Carol and The 12 Days of Christmas. Holly Parker, Events Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “There’s nothing like wandering through the stunning historic quarter of Lincoln to the sound of Christmas carols floating through the air, and stopping to watch traditional festive tales played out in the street.”
If family fun is at the top of the agenda then don’t forget to take a trip to the fairground onWestgate and try out the traditional funfair rides. Or if your looking for a little more of a relaxing fun for the children why not head over to the Lawn to the children’s Winter Wonderland, where there will be lots of festive fun for all! There’s also the new addition of Ruddocks craft marquee over in Westgate, so if you feel like getting messy and making your own Christmas crackers or decoration why not stop by to see what you can create. Holly Parker, Events Officer of Lincoln Council, said: “With this partnership there will be lots of exciting entertainment for the children.”
Top 5 Tips
1- Dress for the occasion- the mix between the cold winter nights and Lincoln’s cobbled streets can end in disaster without the right shoes!
2- Park and Ride- this is always the best option it will save you time and money.
3- Time- make sure you give yourself plenty of time to wander round and see all the Christmas splendour that Lincoln’s Market has to offer.
4- Crowds- if you are not a fan of being surrounded by a horde of Christmas shoppers, with the working week not quite over the best times to come are on Thursday
evening, and Friday morning.
5- Got lost? – To save panicking and time set up a meeting point with your friends and family, somewhere memorable. There will also be stewards and policemen available if
children do end up lost.
6- Where is everything? – Don’t forget to take the map found at the back of the magazine; this will save you time getting round the market.
7- Keeping warm- get into the Christmas spirit and grab a glass of mulled wine to keep you warm, or drop by the food caught if you fancy a hot chocolate!
8- About the area- if you want to have lunch inside somewhere warm, drop in to the visitors information centre in castle square for advice on where’s best to go.
9- One way system- follow the signs and you should manage to see everything Lincoln’s Christmas market has to offer.
10- Don’t miss out- take your time walking and make the most of your day, by slowly making your way through the market taking in all the Christmas spirit it has to offer.
Opening Times
Thursday 1st December- 4-9:30pm
Friday 2nd December- 10-9:30pm
Saturday 3rd December- 10-9:30pm
Sunday 4th December- 10-7pm
Number to call if you have any questions for the Christmas Market team: 01522 873503
Birdy’s Boutique has recently opened a new store in Lincoln and is the perfect place to find a great gift for Christmas. With a huge range of clothes and accessories Birdy’s Boutique will have something for that special person. 257 High Street, LN2 1HX or visit www.birdys-boutique.co.uk
Eric A Bird Jewellers
Eric A Bird Jewellers in Lincoln has been providing customers with an Aladdin’s cave of treasures including jewellery and watches alongside a wide variety of clocks and gifts, perfect for inspiring you for gifts for Christmas. For the perfect gift for men why not take a look at the Bulova watches. The watches are fitted with the latest quartz movement. It is accurate to +/- 10 seconds per year and are easily identifiable with their smooth action seconds hand. Eric A Bird Jewellers, 1 St Mary’s Street, Lincoln LN5 7EQ Tel: 01522 520977 www.eric-a-bird.co.uk
Steep Hill Wines
Steep Hill Wines, on Lincoln’s aptly named Steep Hill has an outstanding range of wines and ports, which will make a great gift idea. For something a little different why not take a look at their wine and port tasting evenings. With locations throughout the Bailgate and city these evenings provide a great night with friends and family and offer something to remember. Steep Hill Wines
Simpsons Spa
Relax and unwind at Simpsons Spa. For that perfect Christmas gift why not buy your loved one an experience of a winter luxury ritual. The offer includes a hot drink on arrival, use of outdoor hot tub, light application of mineral makeup for ladies and afternoon tea at Branston Hall Hotel. You also get to choose from a selection of rituals including detox ritual, exotic ritual, couples and friend’s ritual, a glow ritual or a warmth ritual. If you are looking for something different, why not book a place for you and your friends on the Group Fitness Boot Camp.
Simpsons also have range of Elemis Gift sets available from the Spa. For full details on all the packages and treatments available visit www.simpsonsbeauty.com, call 01522 797989 or email spabookings@simpsonsbeauty.com
Lincolnshire Co-operative
For all your Christmas gifts this season why not take a look in the Moorland Centre where you will find everything under one roof.
Choose from a wide variety of gifts including fragrances, clocks, mirrors and photo frames. The Christmas Shop is now open. Moorland Way, Tritton Road, Lincoln. Tel: 01522 500588
The Beauty Spa at the Bentley Hotel
The Beauty Spa at the Bentley Hotel which state-of-the-art equipment includes a whirlpool bath, sauna and thermal suite as well as a hairdressing salon and opulent treatment rooms. For a gift for either him or her why not buy a treatment to help unwind after the festive season. The spa offers individual treatments ranging from flotation treatments, massage, facials, Thalgo body treatments, plenty for your hands and feet and Kindred Spirits.
If you are looking for a full day, or even an over night stay the Beauty Spa has plenty of packages to choose from with options from a discover, bronze, silver, gold, platinum or even a twilight experience. The spa is self-contained so guests can cocoon themselves in luxury and warmth from the moment they are welcomed through the door. The Beauty Spa at the Bentley Hotel, Newark Road, South Hykeham.
Lincoln’s very own Craig Hollingsworth will be performing with Cannon and Ball in Lincoln Theatre Royals Christmas Pantomime, Cinderella.
Craig is no stranger to the stage at the theatre as he spent many years performing as part of the Lincoln Theatre Royal School during his school years. After leaving school Craig went on to achieve a BTEC in Performing Arts at Lincoln College. Craig’s passion for acting came when he performing in his first Nativity play at primary school, and from there his excitement around acting grew.
During his professional career Craig has had a wide array of jobs. He spent six months cruising around the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean Cruises as part of their entertainment crew, performing daily too many cruise guests. He has worked in television with parts in Emmerdale, Casualty and Doctors. Craig’s main passion, and his current job is presenting a magic tricks. He loves being able to entertain both adults and children, and coming up with new tricks.
When asked about performing in his home town, Craig said “it’s great to be performing back at the Theatre Royal. It’s like playing for your home team at your home ground. After spending many years here at the Theatre Royal School, it’s great to come back and be part of the Christmas Panto, and being able to perform with Tommy Cannon and Booby Ball, as well as Michelle (Hardwick) and Nicola (Weeks) is great. We’re looking forward to getting in and starting rehearsals.
‘Cinderella’ is coming to Lincoln from Wednesday, 7th December until Sunday, 15th January. For further details please visit www.lincolntheatreroyal.com or call the box office on 01522 519999
The festive season has begun this year, as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on. Laura Wright went to the event to find out just what makes Lincoln sparkle.
Lincoln's lights being switched on
Christmas officially started in the city of Lincoln on Thursday 17thNovember, when the Christmas lights were switched on by comedy duo Cannon and Ball.Starting at 6 o’clock at St. Mark’s shopping centre, the festivities -including a local live band and a dance performance by college students dressed as elves, definitely started to get people into the Christmas spirit.
As the crowds made their way over to the High Street, the bright glowing lights which had already made an appearance down the streets sparkled in the winter night’s sky.
Starting outside Lloyds TSB bank and working their way up the hill past theWaterside Shopping Centre, people closely gathered around with their warm Christmas drinks, eagerly awaiting the switch on.
After a few festive songs, a crowd warm up by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Rod Whiting and a parade from the Mayor of Lincoln and the civic party, Cannon and Ball finally arrived to brighten up the city.
When the count-down hit one, they flicked the switch and the colourful, twinkling lights lit up the sky and a loud cheer from the crowd echoed around the street –as the Christmas season began.
The crowd then separated and went off into different directions, some heading straight into the Waterside, where Cannon and Ball were waiting to sign autographs, some took their children over to see special guest ‘Pudsey the Bear’ and others made a start on their Christmas shopping-as like every other Thursday night in Lincoln, many stores stayed open for trading up until 9pm.
It was certainly a festive, pretty way to bring the people of Lincoln together, to mark the start of the Christmas season.
