Newcastle’s Christmas Markets: Meet the Traders
We chat to a handful of the amazing traders at this year’s Christmas Markets
Newcastle’s Christmas Markets are back in the Toon this festive season with over 40 stalls selling everything from food and drink to fashion and art.
We caught up with some of this year’s traders to find out a little bit more about them and what they love most about being a part of the Christmas Markets.
Festival
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We sell hand-knit wool products – we’ve got socks, flap hats, bobble hats, beanies, gloves, hand warmers. It’s all beautifully hand-knit by companies in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu in Nepal that we’ve worked directly with for years. We like to trade ethically!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
It’s great being outside and meeting lots of different people – I really enjoy it. We’ve done the markets for the past 12 or so years, so fingers crossed we’ll be back next year!
Crumble Pots
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re selling sweet and savoury crumbles. The most popular crumble we have is probably the apple with it being the most traditional. We’ve also got a bit of a spin with our Christmas dinner crumble which comes with a savoury crumble on top that has herbs and onions in it – it sounds weird, but it’s really good!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
This is our first time taking part in Newcastle’s Christmas Markets and it’s been amazing. We’ve had a lot of support and seen a few of our crumbles go viral online which is new for us!
Geordie Banger Co
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re Geordie Banger Co and we sell sausages. We’ve got loaded hot dogs that you can put toppings on, you can get sausage on a stick, there’s plenty of variety of sauces and we do festive sausage swirls too – plus plenty of hot and cold drinks as well. Our most popular food is our loaded banger dog topped with jalapenos, gherkins and crispy onions – people absolutely love them!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
Meeting all the people! Everyone has a good laugh and it’s just a good time. We’ll definitely be back next year!
Riverside Spirits
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We have a range of whisky, gin, vodka and rum-based liqueurs and everyone is welcome to come and have a taste! People are loving our vodka passionfruit liqueur and it’s selling really well. It can be used on its own over ice or topped up with prosecco – it’s almost instantly like a Pornstar Martini and everyone seems to be into that flavour at the moment!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
This is our third year doing the markets and I love the people here in Newcastle. We also get a lot of Dutch people who come over on the ferry and do their Christmas shopping here and a lot of Scottish people come down from the borders too – it’s a great mixture of people. I’ve done a lot of Christmas Markets and Newcastle’s definitely has the best atmosphere!
Fudge Packers
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re a North East-based company that sells handmade fudge in a range of different flavours including salted caramel, Baileys and Ferrero Rocher but our most popular flavours are Mars Bar and Amaretto & Cherry. We’re selling our fudge for £6.50 each or three for £18 in a lovely gift box.
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
I think the atmosphere is amazing – especially when it starts to snow!
Elemental Photography
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re selling framed photographs of iconic, local landscapes in Newcastle, Northumberland and North East. They’re all images I’ve taken myself and we do all the prints ourselves using a 12 colour Canon pigment ink printer which is a fine art printer, so the quality is absolutely exceptional.
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
Trade has been really good and I’ve met some great people too. As always, you get to meet some great characters in Newcastle! I’ve had loads of people from outside the area too and lots of people have commented that the atmosphere is much better this year. Everybody’s in a good mood and nobody’s too stressed about their Christmas shopping just yet!
Sing Gin & Sommer Aperitif
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
Our parent company is called Kettlesing Distilling and we’re selling Sing Gin which comes in two varieties – a London dry gin and a raspberry and orange blossom gin – and our bittersweet rhubarb and raspberry-flavoured Sommer Aperitif, which is a similar style to Aperol.
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
This year is the first time we’ve taken part and it’s been brilliant. Everyone has been in a great mood and people from the North East are always on form. We hope we can come back again next year!
La Petite Crêperie
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
I’m selling authentic French sweet crêpes. The most popular one is definitely the Nutella and my homemade salted caramel sauce has been very successful too. And if you want a treat, you can try pistachio or hazelnut as well.
I also sell a savoury crêpe in the mornings that’s filled cream cheese that has been asked for by my Middle Eastern customers. I’m serving hundreds of customers from the Middle East – students mainly – every single day and they love the cream cheese!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
The relationships I manage to build with my customers – that’s why I do this job actually! That’s why they come back every single year. I love looking after them, serving them authentic French crêpes and having a bit of craic with them!
The Medibody
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
Scented candles and a range of our best-selling funky cardigans!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
I think it’s the people – they’re so friendly here in Newcastle! I’ve met loads of funny and interesting people. It’s been amazing!
Matthews Cheese
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re Matthews Cheese and we’re based in the Grainger Market. We do the Christmas Markets every year and we sell a variety of cheese truckles – sweet, savoury, creamy, crumbly. They’re the best in town!
Our most popular cheese truckle this year has been the Madras Curry. Customers have been coming back and telling us that it’s really good on toast!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
It’s so festive and Christmassy – I just love it!
Firebrick Brewery
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
It’s all beers locally brewed down in Blaydon, a 10-minute train journey up the River Tyne. We have everything from lagers, blonde beers, IPA beers all the way up to darker stouts, winter ales and brown ales and we sell gift packs as well.
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
Seeing everyone happy and in the Christmas spirit! We get a lot of new customers who aren’t aware of our products too, so it’s nice to introduce to them to our beers as well!
Katherine's Florists
What are you selling at Newcastle’s Christmas Markets?
We’re selling things like Christmas trees, wreaths, flower bouquets – anything Christmassy and floral really!
What do you love most about taking part in the Christmas Markets?
This is our first time doing Newcastle’s Christmas Markets and it’s been great so far! People are loving our berry wreaths – they’re made with real berries and are only £8. They’ve been selling really fast!
Newcastle’s Christmas Markets are positively brimming with amazing traders and it’s the perfect excuse to get some Christmas shopping done… while perhaps indulging in some amazing food to keep you fuelled! Stop by the markets and see for yourself and check out all the traders taking part this year at the official Newcastle’s Christmas website.
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