We’re going festive crazy at Boutique Market head quarters. There’s also a whole lot going on for you all in the next few weeks.
On the 25th November we’ll be at Portsmouth Guildhall for our huge indoor Christmas Market. Sellers from all over the South Coast will be joining us with their handmade creations, unusual “not on the high street items” and wonderful vintage finds for you to treat your loved ones to at bargain prices this Christmas.
Elisa Loves jewellery will be joining us this Sunday with incredible handmade glass creations as well as seventy other stalls… www.elisaloves-jewellery.com
www.floralposterart.co.uk
www.emmasinteriors.org
On the 1st December we are at Little Johnny Russells pub between 12pm-4.30pm with another free entry market in the heart of Albert Road, Portsmouth’s quirkiest road for shopping. We’ll be giving away mince pies, the LJR team will be making mulled wine and you can visit all the other amazing shops that Albert Road has to offer while you are there.
On the 2nd December you will have another chance to enter Portsmouth Guildhall for free and stock up on presents and decorations for all the family at our indoor market between 11am-3pm.
Our most exciting event is without a doubt, the Victorian Festival of Christmas at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is especially delighted to be introducing a magical new stage scene with a Victorian Father Christmas, dressed in green, who will be greeting one and all alongside his trusty reindeer and elves as they prepare for their busiest night of the year.
Hampshire Fare traders will be returning again this year for food lovers to sample the delights of quality, local produce including jams and chutneys, honey, biltong, fudge and freshly baked bread, cakes and pastries. It’s also a chance to stock up on treats for festive feasts or give in to the aromas of steaming mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.
Also new for this year – delightful Christmas drink demonstrations and tasters of ales, cocktails, egg nog and Hebridean liqueurs!
Visitors can browse the traders on the snowy covered Victorian streets along with all of Dickensian society, from the gentry and their families promenading to shop for presents (avoiding the pick-pockets!) and playing street games such as hopscotch and patter-cake, including characters such as Miss Havisham from Great Expectations and Scrooge and his ghosts, as well as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the Victorian Pharmacy; to the chimney sweeps touting for business, the wenches drumming up business in the Lord Nelson pub, the roaming market traders and Oliver Twist with Fagin’s gang of characters.
The grand buildings of the historic site and Georgian storehouses will be transformed into a glorious bazaar of arts, crafts, food, drink and gifts with hundreds stalls – ensuring the Festival of Christmas remains the largest Christmas market on the South Coast! The Boutique Market will also be bringing back their very special indoor market hall with handmade items, artist’s work, upcycled fashion, vintage desirables, retro objects and local businesses who supply something just that little bit different that you won”t find on the High Street. Find them in Storehouse 15 with terrific atmosphere amidst a good old fashioned Victorian knees up!
Helping visitors to become immersed in the atmosphere of the Victorian dockyard will be a whole host of colourful characters and entertainment including Mr Alexander’s Travelling Show with magic and illusions, fire-eating and juggling as well as the traditional carol singers. Amidst the Penny Farthings and bicycles whizzing by, will be Queen Victoria and Mr Brown inspecting the Fort Cumberland Guard and the rest of the festivities, in their traditional horse and carriage. There will also be steam engines and organs, along with miniature ride-a-long railways.
For a small additional charge there will be all the fun of the fair with the beautiful Gallopers Merry-Go-Round and Chair-O-Plane rides and stalls including Hook-a-Duck! Plus, a fantastic array of food and drink to enjoy along the way.
There will be even more music this year in Fagin’s Tavern with music hall entertainment and includes the Edelweiss Bavarian Showband, Jack Tar Shanty Singers, Royal British Legion Victory Brass Band, Jazz Magic, Spirit of the South, Ladies Barber Shop Choir, clog dancing with Devils Jump and the traditional carol service with AChoired Taste and Portsmouth Chorus; then music continues throughout the site with the popular Rose & Thistle Pipe Band.
This year, radio station Heart is proud to support the event with their Heart Angel team and their alfresco zone in attendance, adding to the huge array of site activities, as well as taking Victorian themed photos which will be available for all to see at heart.co.uk
A Victorian Festival of Christmas is proud to be supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) – helping the naval family from serving and veterans to families alike. Please visit http://www.rnrmc.org.uk for more information.
For tickets see www.christmasfestival.co.uk or call 0844 880 5419 (£1.50 administration and postage fee applies to telephone bookings. Calls cost 5p per minute, charges from mobiles may vary).
All Boutique Market events at Little Johnny Russells, New Theatre Royal and Portsmouth Guildhall are free entry.
Prices ( For A Victorian Festival of Christmas at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard)
Walk-Up Tickets: Adults: £16, Children: £14, Seniors: £15 and Family: £49
Advanced Purchase (1st – 29th November): Adults: £15, Children: £13, Seniors: £14 and Family: £45
Prices shown include 10% Gift Aid Donation. We claim additional income from the government on all donations which helps support Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s vital ongoing work toward preserving our naval heritage.
Opening Times
Friday 30th November – Sunday 2nd December 2012, 10am – 6pm.
Last entry and admission times to the attractions will be earlier.
Directions
By road: Join the M275 at Junction 12 of the M27 and follow the brown Historic Waterfront signs from the M27 and Historic Dockyard signs in Portsmouth.
By bus, coach, rail, ferry from Gosport or catamaran from the Isle of Wight: Portsmouth Harbour Station/The Hard Interchange is 200 metres from our entrance.
