This is why St. George’s Hall is the place to be this Christmas in Liverpool

Liverpool’s St George’s Hall has Christmas all wrapped up as its festive activities begin to snowball this week.

On Friday (16 November), returning for a third year, Liverpool’s Christmas Market will officially open on St George’s Hall plateau from 5pm.

More than 40 traditional-style festive cabins dressed in garlands offering up tempting Christmas gifts including handmade jewellery, festive decorations, fleece garments, fragrances, beautiful canvases, hand-painted ceramic plates, scarves and edible gifts to make perfect stocking fillers.

Also on offer is a vast array of food and drink stalls catering to all tastes, with food on offer such as the Yorkshire wrap pancakes, mezze platters, hog roasts, salt and pepper sui mai, along with the likes of bratwurst and gourmet burgers.  For those with a sweet tooth, crepes, Belgian waffles, muffins and cupcakes will be on offer.

After a successful inaugural year, the Windmill Bar makes its return and will serve traditional beers, mulled wine, hot chocolate and other festive drinks.

For younger visitors there will be a selection of vintage fairground rides to enjoy.

The market will kick-start the Hall’s ticketed Christmas activities, which include:

• Carols in the Concert Room – On Wednesday 12 December, sing along to your festive favourites as the Concert Room plays host to Liverpool’s very own Mezzo Soprano Danielle Thomas, the Liverpool Harmonic Gospel Choir and Allerton Brass. And the Hall’s very own Charles Dickens will provide a reading or two. Tickets are £16.50, including booking fees, and can be bought from the website here.

• Luna Winter Cinema – Everyone loves a Christmas film, and what better way to enjoy your favourite festive flick than in the stunning surroundings of the Hall.  Showings take place from Wednesday 19 to Sunday 23 December, with the likes of It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone and Love Actually on the line up (please note, Elf has already sold out). Tickets are £11 (concessions are available) and can be bought from the website here.

As well as St George’s Hall, the Town Hall is playing host to a very special guest:

• Storytime with Santa – Father Christmas and his friend Buddy the Elf, are heading to the Town Hall to share some magical stories and sing a song or two in their magical grotto. Starting from Saturday 1 December, Storytime is aimed at 3-10 year olds and each session lasts around 45mins. Tickets are £15 per child (two adults can accompany them for free) and can be www.liverpooltownhall.co.uk/events/story-time-with-santa/

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Thousands enjoyed the market last year and we had really positive feedback from both visitors and traders.

“There is a wide variety of stalls selling seasonal food and drink to really get people into the festive spirit, and with the additional activities taking place inside St George’s Hall and the Town Hall there really is something for everyone.”

The markets will run until Sunday 23 December.

For more on what’s happening in Liverpool this Christmas head this way and keep up to date with all the festive action on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages.