TELEVISION STARS SET TO APPEAR

AT HARROGATE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Visitors to the third annual Harrogate Christmas Market may spot a few familiar faces as they browse the stalls next month.

Three BBC television stars will be among almost 200 traders opening their stalls from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30 – and they are all looking forward to meeting festive shoppers.

West Yorkshire resident Julie Gromett, who appeared in this year’s Great British Sewing Bee on BBC2, will be bringing her new business, Tweedy Gromett, to this year’s Market. She designs unique tailored clothing for toddlers – including everything from pinafores to flat caps – and they are manufactured in Yorkshire using 100% British wool.

Julie said: “I wanted to come to Harrogate Christmas Market because it is such a beautiful place, full of people who appreciate quality, and it is my husband’s home town.

“I am really looking forward to the buzz of the market and the atmosphere. All my previous shows have been quite different as I normally work at the equestrian and game fairs, mostly in the sunshine, so it will be different to have Christmas lights everywhere!

“I am so excited, I have had a special waistcoat made just for the Christmas Market – it’s made long like a dress so I can wear it with woolly tights and boots. I can’t wait to show it off and meet lots of new people in Harrogate.”

Meanwhile, Ampleforth Abbey – recently featured on both Countryfile and Songs of Praise – will also be taking a stall. It will be offering samples of its famous cider, cider brandy, apple liqueur and Ampleforth Abbey Beer, which has been developed to a traditional recipe used by the Monks during exile in France following the Reformation.

Gillian Dewar, from Ampleforth Abbey, said: “We were recently on Countryfile and Songs of Praise, both of which highlighted our produce. They showed how the Community has to be able to bring income into the Abbey as well as how the Community live their lives serving God. We have had quite a few people visit on the back of the programmes as awareness of what we do has been increased.

“We attended Harrogate Christmas Market last year and found it to be a fantastic event for meeting new customers and allowing them to try our products. We hope this year will help us meet more customers and prove how delicious our monastic produce is.”

Thirdly, a glass artist who found fame during the Tour de France will also be taking part in Harrogate Christmas Market this year.

Jane O’Neill, who runs Abundant Glass, was inspired by the landscape around her hometown of Hebden Bridge and her love of cycling, and created her Yorkshire Cyclist Collection of glass coasters, key rings and cufflinks, as well as limited edition prints and cards. Her collection includes 12 images of towns and landmarks on the Tour de France route, including Harrogate and Harewood House. 

She said: “I was contacted by Countryfile, who were filming in our area and looking for cycling artists.  I was filmed cycling up Cragg Vale (the longest continuous incline in England – and my local hill) and then interviewed by the lovely John Craven who also joined me later in my studio and helped me with my glass work.

"I’m really looking forward to being part of Harrogate Christmas Market and sharing my work with people there. As well as pieces from my Yorkshire Cyclist Collection, I’ll be bringing lots of my other work along, much of which is inspired by the Yorkshire landscape.”

Visitors can find Tweedy Gromett, Ampleforth Abbey and Abundant Glass at Harrogate Christmas Market, which takes place at the bottom of Montpellier Hill in Harrogate from November 27-30. It focuses on good quality, hand-made or homemade products, gifts and decorations, as well as festive food and drink, from around Yorkshire and the North of England.

As well as the stalls, it offers children’s fun fair rides, Santa in his grotto with real reindeer, and festive entertainment throughout the weekend from local musicians. Opening hours will be 10am-8pm from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th November, and 10am-5pm on Sunday 30th November.