Get into the Christmas spirit at Bowood fair
Shoppers at a previous Bowood Festive Food and Gift Fair
STARTING on that Christmas gift list is always a daunting prospect but what if there were somewhere you could see a huge choice of unique gifts all in one place?
Look no further than the Bowood Festive Food and Gift Fair, which gets the yuletide season off to an atmospheric start amid the stately surroundings of Bowood on Monday November 30 and Tuesday December 1.
The fair takes place in the Kerry Suite at the Bowood Hotel Spa and Golf Resort between Calne and Chippenham and as well as being a place to find unique gifts and locally produced food and drink, it also raises vital funds for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.
The charity works in partnership with Wiltshire Police with three operators visiting homes across Wiltshire and Swindon to offer free practical home security measures for people over 60, those at risk of domestic abuse or over 18 with a registered disability.
It also has a team of Stay Safe Online volunteers who visit clients in their homes and give talks to groups about preventing online fraud.
“It always feels like Christmas is just around the corner when we start planning for this event,” said Bobby Van Director Jennie Shaw. “It is a wonderful early celebration because the setting of Bowood’s hotel, the music and the buzz of everyone shopping really gives you a sense of the season.
“The money raised by the fair will go such a long way to continuing to support the safety and wellbeing of older people and will allow them to enjoy the festive period too.”
Monday’s preview event runs from 2pm to 8pm with tickets at £15. Visitors will be greeted with a glass of wine in the evening.
The fair opens again at 9am on Tuesday through to 3pm, providing another chance to meet up with friends to shop, have coffee or lunch in the hotel's Shelburne Restaurant to share Christmas plans and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
“We have a wonderful range of stalls with some fantastic makers and producers who have some really lovely gift ideas,” said Jennie. “Whether you’re looking for stocking fillers, festive food, inspiration for those hard-to-please family members, or just to spoil yourself, we’ll have something that fits the bill.
“We are very grateful to Bowood and the Lansdowne family for hosting us and for their continued support of this event, it really is one of the highlights of our calendar.”
Tickets are available online here with a special two-for-one offer on £5 tickets for Tuesday December 1.