Christmas is back with a bang in Berkshire – and a brand new Victorian Christmas Fayre. Here are five reasons why you should there with (jingle) bells on.

It’s a go big or go home kinda Christmas this year. And there’s no such thing as too early to feel festive in our book. With that in mind, here are four reasons why you should be heading for Newbury’s Victorian Christmas Fayre on Friday 3 to Sunday 5 December with (jingle) bells on. Grinches need not apply…

1) SHOPPING

Whip out the Christmas list and get your pressies ticked off early! Forget mindlessly scrolling through the Amazon app for socks, and instead treat your nearest and dearest to a gift from one of the best indies the country has to offer, be it fashion, homeware, bespoke art or delicious food or drink (psst – keep an eye out for 137 Gin‘s pop up shop in Newbury Parkway, a Muddy favourite). The tricky part? Not blowing the budget on goodies for yourself.

2) FOOD AND DRINK

Speaking of sustenance, it’s not a Christmas Fayre unless you can totter round the stalls with something hot and boozy clutched in your mittened hand – and the Victorian Christmas Fayre certainly delivers on this front. The event is decked out with local food and producers providing excellent grub and plenty of seasonal tipples to keep you merry and bright. Cheers to that! If you need to warm your cockles, there are loads of award-winning gastropubs, bars and a huge variety of restaurants to refuel in toaster surroundings. For the inside track, here’s a load of Muddy faves.

3) BAH HUMBUG BAN

This is a Newbury town centre takeover. And this West Berkshire market town is not leaving it to John Lewis or M&S to create the festive feels. Keep your eyes peeld for Newbury’s first ever TV ad (view it here) The 12 Days of Newbury, organised by Newbury BID and supported by the Welcome Back Fund via ERDF. Then save the dates: Christmas Light Switch On (20 Nov), Victorian Christmas Fayre ((3-5 Dec) and the Lantern Procession (16 Dec).

4/ ATMOSPHERE

Packed out shopping centre of nightmares, this is not. The Victorian Christmas Fayre is made up of stalls, so you can fully soak up the festive buzz. Still feeling a bit ‘bah humbug’? Ragtime Theatre, Harmony Acapella Choir, VoxFresh Choir, Newbury Community Ladies Choir and Nomads Choir will be in full voice with a range of carols and Christmas bangers, which is pretty much guaranteed to fill you with cheer and goodwill to all men. That’s not all, a beautiful vintage carousel will pop up in Market Place, Santa’s opening up his Grotto (location tbc, as the big FC is being a bit of a diva) and there will street entertainers galore.

4) IT’S A LIVING CHRISTMAS CARD

Dig out your crinolines, hat, furry muff, Newbury’s going back in time to create a Christmas Card pretty vision of the festive season. OK so you don’t have to go in fancy dress unless that’s how you role. But expect retailers, stall holders and entertainers to be channeling A Christmas Carol. It’s about time we had a traditional Christmas market with all the bells and whistles. I’m always disappointed when carol singers knock on my door and there’s not a candlelit lantern or faux fur stole among them.

Newbury’s Victorian Christmas Fayre takes place on Friday 3 – Saturday 4 December, 10am-8pm and Sunday 5 December, 10am-5pm.