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[News] Christmas Markets







Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull
Aug 27, 2011
9,185
Brighton
Wife and I go to Cologne for the markets (there are 6 or 7 in town). This year will be our 5th visit. Why? Because all the traders are not after your money. They all dress up in uniform, smile, try and speak English, explain what they're selling (especially the food) and treat you as friends.
Prices vary but 5€ will get you a large hot Gluhwein. Bratwurst about the same. But then check out all the other food items, mmmm. Beer is 1.20€ for 20cl glass. But as it's cold you tend not to drink too much. Hot chestnuts are 5€ for a large bag (I paid £7 for a small bag in Winchester)
Been to Manchester, Hyde Park & Winchester and all they want is your money. Workers are dressed in jeans, jumper and wooley hats complaining about the cold and doing you a favour serving you and ripping you off.
Cologne this year is costing £1200 plus spending money for 6 days by car in 4* hotel. 5 days would have been £350 cheaper.
We stop off at another town on route, this year it's Brussels but also done Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Antwerp.
Off course there is also the essential stops at Carrefour (tax free shopping) and duty free.
And when you've had enough there are the Kolsch brewers to explore. Plenty of them in town.
 


Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
69,885
Withdean area
Wife and I go to Cologne for the markets (there are 6 or 7 in town). This year will be our 5th visit. Why? Because all the traders are not after your money. They all dress up in uniform, smile, try and speak English, explain what they're selling (especially the food) and treat you as friends.
Prices vary but 5€ will get you a large hot Gluhwein. Bratwurst about the same. But then check out all the other food items, mmmm. Beer is 1.20€ for 20cl glass. But as it's cold you tend not to drink too much. Hot chestnuts are 5€ for a large bag (I paid £7 for a small bag in Winchester)
Been to Manchester, Hyde Park & Winchester and all they want is your money. Workers are dressed in jeans, jumper and wooley hats complaining about the cold and doing you a favour serving you and ripping you off.
Cologne this year is costing £1200 plus spending money for 6 days by car in 4* hotel. 5 days would have been £350 cheaper.
We stop off at another town on route, this year it's Brussels but also done Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Antwerp.
Off course there is also the essential stops at Carrefour (tax free shopping) and duty free.
And when you've had enough there are the Kolsch brewers to explore. Plenty of them in town.

It might not be your thing, I’m a chocoholic, I also love the bags of almonds dipped in molten chocolate.

German or Austrian ice cold beers are stunning. I wonder if @Herr Tubthumper concurs?
 


The Clamp

Well-known member
Jan 11, 2016
26,409
West is BEST
Wife and I go to Cologne for the markets (there are 6 or 7 in town). This year will be our 5th visit. Why? Because all the traders are not after your money. They all dress up in uniform, smile, try and speak English, explain what they're selling (especially the food) and treat you as friends.
Prices vary but 5€ will get you a large hot Gluhwein. Bratwurst about the same. But then check out all the other food items, mmmm. Beer is 1.20€ for 20cl glass. But as it's cold you tend not to drink too much. Hot chestnuts are 5€ for a large bag (I paid £7 for a small bag in Winchester)
Been to Manchester, Hyde Park & Winchester and all they want is your money. Workers are dressed in jeans, jumper and wooley hats complaining about the cold and doing you a favour serving you and ripping you off.
Cologne this year is costing £1200 plus spending money for 6 days by car in 4* hotel. 5 days would have been £350 cheaper.
We stop off at another town on route, this year it's Brussels but also done Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Antwerp.
Off course there is also the essential stops at Carrefour (tax free shopping) and duty free.
And when you've had enough there are the Kolsch brewers to explore. Plenty of them in town.
Also, Cologne is a lovely city.
 






Gazwag

5 millionth post poster
Mar 4, 2004
30,811
Bexhill-on-Sea
We are too, not been before, but the Christmas Markets are one of the best apparently and of course its really cheap there. Going to keep my eye out for a Dukla away shirt and Sparta are home so going to try and get tickets
Bought 4 tickets last night for the Sparta game on the Saturday we are there, should be fun, albeit bloody cold I suspect
 


BN41Albion

Well-known member
Oct 1, 2017
6,892
God folk really do moan at everything and anything. No-one's forcing anyone to go to a Christmas market. If you're not keen, don't bother. Yeah they're not amazing over here (the bigger cities like Manchester do a pretty good job though) but the atmosphere's always nice and Christmassy, good excuse for a gluhweine and bratwurst and the kids like it with hot chocolate etc, then off to ice skate at the Pavilion followed by cosy Christmassy pub (to those moaning we do everything shit - we do christmassy pubs pretty bloody well).
Whats not to like?
 


Invicta

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 1, 2013
3,393
Kent
Wife and I go to Cologne for the markets (there are 6 or 7 in town). This year will be our 5th visit. Why? Because all the traders are not after your money. They all dress up in uniform, smile, try and speak English, explain what they're selling (especially the food) and treat you as friends.
Prices vary but 5€ will get you a large hot Gluhwein. Bratwurst about the same. But then check out all the other food items, mmmm. Beer is 1.20€ for 20cl glass. But as it's cold you tend not to drink too much. Hot chestnuts are 5€ for a large bag (I paid £7 for a small bag in Winchester)
Been to Manchester, Hyde Park & Winchester and all they want is your money. Workers are dressed in jeans, jumper and wooley hats complaining about the cold and doing you a favour serving you and ripping you off.
Cologne this year is costing £1200 plus spending money for 6 days by car in 4* hotel. 5 days would have been £350 cheaper.
We stop off at another town on route, this year it's Brussels but also done Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Antwerp.
Off course there is also the essential stops at Carrefour (tax free shopping) and duty free.
And when you've had enough there are the Kolsch brewers to explore. Plenty of them in town.
We've been to Cologne twice and also loved it. Away from the Christmas markets can also do some good festive boat trips too. Annoyingly seems to be few flights to Cologne at present.
 




Professor Plum

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 27, 2024
776
Basel, went last year and going again in December, very good.
Basel is a lovely city and we went to the Christmas market a few times when we lived over there. After the market we could pop over the French border to load up with cheaper Christmas food and drink before driving back home. Happy memories.
 


DavidinSouthampton

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 3, 2012
17,429
God folk really do moan at everything and anything. No-one's forcing anyone to go to a Christmas market. If you're not keen, don't bother. Yeah they're not amazing over here (the bigger cities like Manchester do a pretty good job though) but the atmosphere's always nice and Christmassy, good excuse for a gluhweine and bratwurst and the kids like it with hot chocolate etc, then off to ice skate at the Pavilion followed by cosy Christmassy pub (to those moaning we do everything shit - we do christmassy pubs pretty bloody well).
Whats not to like?
If we go in to Southampton at the moment, we can’t avoid it. It’s all up and down Above Bar so even if you don’t want to venture in to it, the busyness of it still affects everything. We were in Birmingham last weekend and it was the same. We avoid them like the plague.
 


getz

Active member
Jan 15, 2010
230
We like the Winchester Christmas Market next to the cathedral. Many beach huts selling arts and crafts things. Yes, there is the over priced mulled wine served out of a huge copper pot. In our opinion a very nice couple of hours mixing with the Hampshire gentry. Then over to the Old Vine pub for a nice lunch
 




BRIGHT ON Q

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
9,277
Wife and I go to Cologne for the markets (there are 6 or 7 in town). This year will be our 5th visit. Why? Because all the traders are not after your money. They all dress up in uniform, smile, try and speak English, explain what they're selling (especially the food) and treat you as friends.
Prices vary but 5€ will get you a large hot Gluhwein. Bratwurst about the same. But then check out all the other food items, mmmm. Beer is 1.20€ for 20cl glass. But as it's cold you tend not to drink too much. Hot chestnuts are 5€ for a large bag (I paid £7 for a small bag in Winchester)
Been to Manchester, Hyde Park & Winchester and all they want is your money. Workers are dressed in jeans, jumper and wooley hats complaining about the cold and doing you a favour serving you and ripping you off.
Cologne this year is costing £1200 plus spending money for 6 days by car in 4* hotel. 5 days would have been £350 cheaper.
We stop off at another town on route, this year it's Brussels but also done Ghent, Lille, Bruges and Antwerp.
Off course there is also the essential stops at Carrefour (tax free shopping) and duty free.
And when you've had enough there are the Kolsch brewers to explore. Plenty of them in town.

You need to add Leuven to your stop offs....lovely City.
Agree about Cologne, great for the Christmas markets if it is your sort of thing.
 


Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull
Aug 27, 2011
9,185
Brighton
You need to add Leuven to your stop offs....lovely City.
Agree about Cologne, great for the Christmas markets if it is your sort of thing.
Thanks. In Brussels for two nights and, although we are driving, I see trains are easy to Leuven. May take a look.
Or plan B may be to drive via Leuven and if it looks good use it as our stop off next year.
 


Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
63,035
The Fatherland
It might not be your thing, I’m a chocoholic, I also love the bags of almonds dipped in molten chocolate.

German or Austrian ice cold beers are stunning. I wonder if @Herr Tubthumper concurs?
Yes. I nice cold Pilsner is lovely!
 






Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
63,035
The Fatherland
As my friends know, I f***ing love Christmas. A part of this is the markets and I try and visit a handful each year. I have two lined up already, thinking about a third. A good opportunity to drink, stuff your face and be merry….what’s not to like?
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
63,035
The Fatherland
Not markets as such, but I’ve had the good fortune to spend two Xmases in NYC….they certainly know how to do Xmas!
 




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