Hampshire Fare Pops-Up at Festival Place
Hampshire Fare is holding a new pop-up Christmas Market at Festival Place, Basingstoke, on Saturday 13th November (from 10am-7pm) as part of Festival Place’s special day to launch six weeks of festive celebrations.
Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager, Hampshire Fare, commented: “This is a first for Hampshire Fare. Working with our Corporate Partner, Festival Place, we have been given the opportunity to take over one of the prime retail units and provide shoppers with an event where they can discover and buy local. Visitors to our Pop-up market will find a selection of Hampshire food and drink producers offering quality, individual gifts and delicious additions to the festive feast, including homemade cakes and shortbread biscuits, local ales and spirits, and hampers of Hampshire produce.
“The Hampshire Fare team will be on hand giving out free Local Produce Guides and helping visitors find out more about Hampshire’s vibrant food and drink community. We are also delighted to say that the deposit fee for each stall is being donated directly to Basingstoke Food Bank charity. So, this is very much a community event and providing a seasonal feel-good factor for everyone involved.”
Emily Palmer, Marketing Manager, Festival Place, adds: “We’re delighted that Hampshire Fare are joining us for our Christmas launch event on the 13th November. It’s the first time we’ve had a local producers' food and drink pop-up at Christmas and it will provide yet another wonderful experience for our visitors. At Festival Place we’re always looking at innovative ways to provide new experiences for our customers while also supporting our local communities, independent retailers and artisan producers. This will certainly add extra excitement to what will be a fun day celebrating all that is Christmas!”
One of the Hampshire Fare members attending the pop-up market, Flora Richardson of Forest Foodie, says: “We are very excited to be attending our first ever Christmas market, and what better opportunity than to be with Hampshire Fare at Festival Place just in time for the start of the festive season! We will be showcasing our brand new range of Christmas Gift Hampers, available to order on the day and packed with local food and drink goodies.”
Another stall holder is Longdog Brewery, run by the Edbrooke family. Jenny Edbrooke comments: “We are really looking forward to celebrating a more sustainable Christmas with our hometown at this event at Festival Place. Join us to sample some delicious real ale, made in the traditional way from locally sourced ingredients. This is an opportunity to find a really special Christmas gift while supporting local business and local charities.”
Tracy Thew of New Forest Shortbread adds: “I have been looking for an opportunity to introduce my beautiful boxes of delicious shortbread to areas outside the New Forest. Come and sample homemade buttery shortbread like Nana's. Buy for yourself or as a gift and enjoy the wonderful artistic illustrations of the New Forest decorating every box.”
Other local producers attending the pop-up Christmas market include: Gorilla Spirits, Little Bee Bakery, and River Test Distillery.
This year Festival Place is creating a magical Christmas experience which will be launched on Saturday 13th November, from 10am-7pm. Santa will be resident in his grotto, there will be festive workshops, dressing up opportunities for photos, live music and Mrs Christmas will be out and about.