Sparkling Fancy Dress & Entertainment
Local Crafts, Produce and Mince Pies, Free admission
Brogdale marketplace will offer a leisurely and festive shopping weekend over the 5/6 December with local stalls, produce, crafts and live music.
Whilst the weekend is geared for Christmas shopping, there will also be entertainment and children’s activities, making it a great event for the whole family. Local actor Kelly White will assume the character of the Nutcracker offering storytelling and a child’s fancy dress competition. Local farmer Lizzie Offen will bring along Carlos the goat and rabbits for visitors to meet and a kids Christmas disco will take place in the function rooms.
In the spirit of Christmas the Faversham Mission Brass Band will play Saturday and Birchington Silver Band Sunday along with a local choir singing carols around the Christmas tree. Shoppers can enjoy a mulled wine or warm spiced Cider and be inspired by floral demonstrations, sharing the secrets of Christmas flower arranging.
Stalls of local produce and crafts including preserves, nuts, wooden toys, stained glass, jewellery and ceramics will set up in the marketplace to compliment the permanent shops. The local Brogdale shops and restaurant/cafe are run by independent traders who are open throughout the year. Now in its 8th year the marketplace continues to grow and expand the ranges to offer a delightful mix of local produce and gifts. The shops include a butcher, plant centre, deli, fruit shop, gift shop, micro-brewery, furniture shop, florist, holistic centre, fabric shop and soon to join will be ladies clothes and handbags. The shops will be offering new ranges for Christmas and tasters.
Mad Cat, the micro-brewery is fully operational and joined the marketplace three years ago. The brewery offers real ale to Kentish pubs, farm shops and direct from the premises. Available by the bottle or keg, it’s well worth a tipple and makes a fantastic Christmas present. Tiddly Pomme not only produces Cider at Brogdale but also a collection of heritage apple juices. Single variety juices are not common place and serving an Egremont Russet at the Christmas table is a great way to impress friends and family. The Fruit Shop will have a selection of heritage fruits from the collections available by the bag or in a Christmas selection box.
The Courtyard, restaurant/cafe is recently under new ownership and adding new additions to the menu including a Gourmet Hot Chocolate and roast dinners throughout December.
Kimberly Campion, Development Officer for Brogdale Collections comments: “the marketplace is growing as new shops are added and more people get to know we exist. Whilst we are only a mile from the town, we are able to offer free parking, a playpark for the children, and the restaurant/café meaning it is a convenient and well facilitated local shopping destination”.
The miniature railway will be running three weekends in December including the 5/6 December for Santa rides. For a small charge children can ride the train through the orchards in search of Santa’s where they can enter the grotto for a Christmas gift.
Admission to the marketplace and activities will be free over the weekend and will be open from 11am – 4pm.
Parking at Brogdale is also free and easy, making shopping that bit less stressful! More details can be found on the website www.brogdalecollections.org
