Get creative
Embracing the festive spirit takes on a creative twist with the delightful activity of Christmas wreath making. There's a unique joy in crafting your own wreath, a tradition that goes beyond mere decoration. I’d suggest checking out Godinton House, in partnership with East Kent Flower Company’s on the 2nd December and 16th December, or Cow Shed Workshop for the best wreath making workshops around Ashford.
For a slightly different craft activities, you could try Christmas wheat weaving at Brook Museum or, if you're more ink-inspired a Christmas Bauble decorating or Christmas inky craft workshop at Coachworks by Drum and Ink.
Festive Foods
If Christmas food is what makes you excited for the festive season, then I suggest making a trip to Perry Court Farm. They have recently developed a new extension so they could stock more festive food and run a lovely café. I still have to try their cruffins! And check out the freshly baked minced pies. The fruit and vegetables are likely grown on the farm and so much of their stocked produce is locally sourced.
Slightly further afield, towards Faversham is Macknade Food Hall, They know how to do a Christmas spread! As well as their Christmas chocolate and treat selection, they offer amazing slabs of smoked salmon and their cheese counter is one of the best around. Get the brie-lliant Cheese Advent Calendars now, as they quickly run out! Opposite the main Food Hall, their wine shop is also worth a visit. Be prepared to feel like your wallet is considerably lighter after visiting.
Christmas Fairs!
Instead of buying all your presents this year from Amazon, there are quite a few local Christmas markets which would love your support. Ashford’s Made In Ashford craft store is hosting their monthly makers market on the 2nd December and the Independent Makers Market will be hosted on the 3rd December in Coachworks.
Near Tenterden, the is Old Dairy Taproom wil be hosting a Small Business Christmas Market on the 3rd December. Expect lovely gifts, mulled wine on tap and pizzas served from 12 pm.
In Folkestone, the annual Christmas market will be open from the 25th November all through the Christmas period. There is always something else going on in Folkestone so tie it in with watching a Christmas movie on the big screen or listening to carol singers in the Creative Quarter.
For the little ones
For the little ones, meeting Santa is always magical. At Ashford’s Designer Outlet, they’ve created Santa’s Lodge where kids can sing songs with a couple of elves and meet Santa.
Sensory centre Rockits in Tenterden is also hosting a meet and greet with Santa. They’ve decked out their space to look like Santa’s Grotto too.
If you’ve got a child who’s into trains, then they might like to take a special train ride with Santa on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
Little Land is a roleplay centre in Park Mall in the centre of Ashford and is hosting a Christmas themed day on the 19th December. Your little ones can meet Santa and decorate some Christmas-themed biscuits.
For the bigger ones
For older children, a Christmas blockbuster is always a fun evening out. Timothy Chamolet’s Willy Wonka is out from 15th December. It’s a prequel to the Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and will include big names such as Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, Olivia Coleman and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa! You can watch the movie at the Picturehouse Cinema or Cineworld.
Virtual Recreation in Elwick Place has also recently opened and you could tie in a movie with an hour of virtual reality gaming
Cosy Christmas, yummy food
One of the best things about Christmas is eating all they yummy food and I can’t help but feel festive when I see Boys Hall’s Instagram! They have outdone themselves with decorating their hotel with foliage and Christmas décor. You can either visit their restaurant or just visit their pub area for some scrumptiously warming small plates.
My local pub is the King’s Head in Wye. It was taken over about six months ago and it’s doing well. Not only do they make five-star halloumi fries, but they cook a delicious chicken schnitzel. It’s got a lovely local feel and they’ll actually be hosting their own Christmas Market in partnership with East Kent Flower Company (A Florist in Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham | East Kent Flower Company - East Kent Flower Company) on the 2nd December and 16th December.
Another pub that’s close by is the Five Bells at Brabourne. I love that any direction you sit, there’s a roaring fire in one of their hearths. It’s such a cosy pub and quite honestly does the best meat burger and veggie burger in Ashford – perhaps Kent. This December, on the 17th, you can gather round with your warm drinks and festive spirits for the Christmas Carol sing along, how jolly!
I hope by reading this blog, you’ll get that little bit more excited about Christmas and the winter season!
