The Festive Gift Fair 2022

Christmas isn’t just about buying gifts, it’s making sure every corner of your home looks fabulous and your table is set for a festive feast! All of which can be found at this much loved Christmas Shopping Fair returning to the NEC, 17-20 NOVEMBER for its 26th year!

Often the most time-consuming part is finding unique presents but there’s no need to be stuck

for ideas this year! Get your Christmas off to a cracking start at The Festive Gift Fair and you’ll see how fun and easy Christmas shopping can be!

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the excitement of the day, exploring 300 stalls (over 100 NEW stalls this year!) overflowing with thousands upon thousands of clever and exciting gift ideas and decorations for affordable prices. The variety is huge, with something for everyone.

To get you into the Christmas spirit, while you’re shopping at the fair, you can enjoy a whole line-up of fantastic musical entertainment to get your toes tapping!

Back by popular demand is David Julien, finalist of The Voice UK, The Grinch, The Stilt Jazz Band, choirs and more! And of course, Santa will be there along with his fabulous sleigh…plenty of photo opportunities!

It’s no wonder The Festive Gift Fair is the most popular Christmas shopping event in the heart of Britain.

Here’s a little sneak preview of some of the goodies you’ll be able to see 

Eat Drink and Be Merry!

Christmas is the one time of year when everyone can over indulge a little. At The Festive Gift Fair you’ll find a whole array of delicious artisan food and drink to sample, before you buy.

NEW! The Panettone Store will be selling mouthwatering panettone in beautiful Dolce & Gabbana designed tins. A perfect dinner party gift.

NEW! Add a little heat to your cooking with Leithal Hot Sauces …hot, tangy and fruity sauces and even a mojo rub!

NEW! Beautiful gift sets from The Cherry Tree – pick your own chutneys, jams and curds from a huge selection of flavours ranging from Christmas pickle with mead to Cherry curd, plum and mulled wine jam to bloody Mary chutney.

NEW! Not just for your table but great present idea from Drury & Alldis…build your own gift of bottle stacked oils and vinegars…black garlic vinegar, oak smoked oil and mango vinegar are many more!

NEW! Put your feet up at the end of the day and enjoy a glass of Moonshine…you’ve earned it! O’Donnell Moonshine, as seen on BBC Dragons’ Den, will tempt your taste buds with roasted apple moonshine, wild berry, tough nut and blood orange …wow!

Home Decor…

Deck you home for Christmas.

Seasonal dried fruit wreaths, swags and garlands from the Natural Cone & Fruit Company are a tradition to adorn any home.

From gonks galore to magical unicorns and Christmas stockings the 1 Stop Christmas Shop has it all!

NEW! Colourful, beautifully crafted handmade mosaic table lamps and ceramic wall décor to brighten any home available from Turan Mosaic Arts & Craft.

GIFTS FOR THE KIDS…

You’ll find loads of clever stocking fillers, toys and games to keep tots, school children and teenagers amused for hours!

For over 15 years now the ever popular Lanke Kade are back with their fair trade wooden toys and gifts. Their distinctive range offers bright, bold colours and natural wood finishes from Noah’s Ark to Nativity sets - a great heirloom for any family.

NEW! Head to the TwirlySkirts stall for a special party dress for your little Princess! Cuddly and fun plush toys and inflatables for boys and girls available on The Little Shop stand.

NEW! 1000’s of books for kids from fiction to fantasy available from Books 2 Doors.

NEW! Discover the inner artist in you by assembling beautiful crystals on canvas using a new amazing technique called diamond painting available on the Diamond Art Studio stall.

PERSONALISE YOUR GIFT FOR A TRULY UNIQUE PRESENT…

Buying presents is often quite a challenge but at The Festive Gift Fair you’ll find decorations and gifts to treasure forever.

NEW! UK Print Studio will personalise your family prints.

Have your choice of name on a huge selection of baubles … Delightful Decorations will again be offering their personalised service at the fair for you.

Using pyrography, Spinney Cottage can personalise a huge range of wooden items from keepsake boxes to bookmarks and stools to keyrings

HEALTH AND BEAUTY TREATS…

Let’s face it we all want to look good for all the Christmas parties and there’s nothing like a bit of pampering once the busy season is in full swing!

The Perfume Shop, have a range of 130 brands of women’s perfumes and men’s aftershave at affordable prices.

NEW! Feel Good CBD offer a range of sports recovery aids, flavoured oils, creams & lotions… drift away at the end of a busy day!

NEW! Beautiful home fragrance and candle gift sets available from Rock Home & Leisure. There’s even a Passion Fruit Martini scent!

NEW! Indulge in some self pampering from Rokamar with their whipped body butters…put your feet up and relax!

FASHION & ACCESSORIES…

Always a popular stall, The Handbag Company offer a huge range of genuine leather bags, purses and wallets at great prices!

NEW! Head to the Twilly & Hyde stall for hide bags, fedora hats , ladies jumpers and gloves.

NEW! For the magic of Disney, Kingdom Threads have a range of embroidered Disney themed apparel.

Ready for winter…Lucido Boutique offer a gorgeous range of knitwear from casual to smart.

Book your tickets now and get ready for a brilliant, fun day Christmas Shopping.

The Christmas Gift Fair is open daily 9.30am-5pm daily from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th November at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Adult tickets from just £6

For much more information, list of exhibitors, video, show highlights and the musical entertainment programme, visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk.

Book tickets online at www.theticketfactory.com.

It's organised by: Orchard Events Ltd.

And will take place in Hall 5 of the NEC. 

The postcode for your satnav is B40 1NT.

info@orchardevents.co.uk

orchardevents.co.uk

Ticket prices are:-

Adult advance full day £9 £11

Adult advance afternoon (1.30pm-5pm) £6 £8

Adult on the door £11 £13

Child (5-16 yrs) £4 £4

Under 5’s free free

GROUP tickets

(15+ adults)

Thurs 17th/Fri 18th Nov Sat 19th/Sun 20th

Nov

Adult advance £6 £8

Child (5-16 yrs) £4 £4

Looking to buy undies this Christmas? Here's expert help!

New research by Pour Moi, shows there's been an increase in men buying lingerie for their wives and girlfriends. Which in the run-up to Christmas is very relevant! 

India Reynolds

However, the study, by Pour Moi, shows most men don’t know their partners bra size.

Former Love Island star and top lingerie designer, India Reynolds, answers men’s most asked underwear questions.

The study, specially commissioned by leading lingerie brand Pour Moi, revealed most men admit they don’t have a clue when it comes to buying new underwear for their wife or girlfriend.

Almost three quarters of men polled didn’t know the difference between basques and bodysuits, with 60% admitting they were pretty much clueless as to what style of lingerie their partner liked the best.

The data uncovered Altrincham which is in Greater Manchester as the top location in the UK where the most men are searching for lingerie for their partners.

The brand conducted the survey after analysing sales and search data revealed a trend in the rise of men purchasing underwear for their partners which has been rising over the last five consecutive years.

Most males have awkward experiences with lingerie, from fondling around in the dark to undo a bra to disappointing a loved one by purchasing unflattering underwear for Christmas.

India Reynolds, the brains behind the new India Loves Pour Moi AW22 collection, a range designed to help women feel absolutely fabulous, has answers for some of men’s most Googled questions when it comes to buying lingerie for that special someone.

India Reynolds said, “Buying lingerie for the woman in your life is sexy, it’s a gift you can both enjoy. But it’s not without its challenges. It can be confusing as there’s lots to know, with loads of choices available.”

“I’ve answered some of the guys’ most asked questions to help them next time they’re looking to buy the missus some new lingerie. There are plenty of men out there who don’t know their way around a bra, never mind the terminology. Hopefully, this will give them the knowledge to shop with confidence and impress their partners.”

“With the new India Loves Pour Moi collection, guys can put their newfound knowledge to good use. We’ve created stylish, timeless and fabulously fitted pieces that make you look and feel amazing no matter your shape, or style is at the core of this range. That's why we’ve included best-selling styles in new colourways, as well as adding in some fabulous new pieces”

Highlights from the new collection include the India Embroidery Bustier and Thong in a stunning cobalt – the perfect shade update for the new season. The customer favourite, India Eyelash Lace, a delicate and luxe style, is now available in a stunning red and chocolate. They're are confident you’ll feel fabulous wearing any of new pieces from the India Loves range.

Your questions answered, by India Reynolds:

How do I know my girlfriend’s bra size?

If you don’t know and don’t want to ask as you’re buying as a surprise, the best way to find out is to look in the labels of her bras and check which size she usually wears.

How do I choose underwear for my partner?

If you know what she usually likes, for example if she always wears black underwear, then I would stick to something quite similar, so you know she’ll like it.

Or if you know there’s any areas of her body, she’s self-conscious of, go for something that might give some coverage, like a bodysuit perhaps. This will help with confidence if she wants to hide her stomach, or a push up bra if she wants a fuller bust.

Women always feel sexier when they feel confident, so I think this is key. Also consider what you would like to see her in, if it’s red lingerie I would get a similar shape to something she has in another colour and feels good in.

What style of underwear do I buy for my partner?

Take into consideration what it’s for. If you’d like something she can wear out, then bodysuits and basques look amazing with jeans and a blazer, so this is great option.

Or if it’s for the bedroom, a suspender set, and stockings are perfect. We have a huge range of options so there’s something for everyone.

What is the difference between a T shirt and a Balconette bra?

A t-shirt bra can be padded or non-padded, they are typically seamless or moulded and give a great shape under clothes. They are a soft everyday bra and more plunge in the middle.

A balconette bra offers a rounded look and great support with less coverage, the straps tend to be a little wider-set and join at the side of the cup rather than the centre. Balconettes look gorgeous as a suspender set and are less every day when compared to a t-shirt bra.

You can check out the range here https://www.pourmoi.co.uk.

Three ways to have a more sustainable Halloween

If you are looking for wooden or paper Halloween decorations, or materials for your Halloween crafting, keep an eye out for the FSC logo.

More and more people are taking part in Halloween in the UK each year, but the scariest thing about October 31st is the dreadful waste. 

With so many people now concerned about environmental issues, many are looking for ways to make Halloween more eco-friendly, so we’ve listed some suggestions below.

1. Say no to plastic

A lot of the Halloween decorations and accessories found in shops sand online are produced with plastic, most of which cannot, unfortunately,  be recycled. You can ditch the plastic trick or treat buckets by using paper or canvas bags instead. 

Are you planning some Halloween celebrations? Then deciding to switch over to plastic-free decorations is a great step. 

You can now find many more sustainable Halloween decorations made with wood or paper, which are reusable/recyclable and budget friendly, too. Just remember to make sure they are FSC-certified! Here are some examples:

Paint your own pumpkins – Flying Tiger

Spider decorations – Flying Tiger

Halloween garland – Flying Tiger

Honeycomb pumpkin decorations – Talking Tables

Pumpkin garland – Talking Tables

Halloween cards – Card Factory

2. Reuse your old costumes

Millions of poor-quality Halloween costumes are mass-produced annually. Many of these are made from unsustainable materials, like polyester, which is a plastic. 

What's even worse is such costumes are often only worn once and then packed away in the attic, only to be thrown away in the next clear out. 

For a greener Halloween costume, make costumes out of old clothing, or you can extend the life of the costumes you already have by re-wearing them or by having a costume swap with friends and family. If you do have any unwanted costumes, sell them online so others can make use of them.

3. Make your own

Are you feeling creative or are looking for Halloween activities for children, a quick Ecosia search will bring up countless tutorials for easy DIY Halloween decorations such as paper garlands, tissue-paper ghosts and print-out templates to make your own masks. But please remember to use FSC-certified or recycled paper.

Short on time? Not skilled enough to craft Halloween stuff? There are many sustainable Halloween decorations that are effortless. You can use fallen branches and leaves as decorations or dress up your house and garden with pumpkins and squashes (just make sure you don’t leave them out too long so you can’t eat them!).

These are just a few sustainable Halloween ideas to get you started. If you are looking for wooden or paper Halloween decorations, or materials for your Halloween crafting, keep an eye out for the FSC logo, letting you know they’re responsibly sourced.

Actually, some of these lessons can be applied to Christmas decorations, too. I think many of us will be up for Christmas paper garlands, using found branches as part of your Christmas decorations. 

However, make sure you are fire safety aware with any decorations you use at home.

fsc-uk.org.

Poppy On Safari

Poppy On Safari is a book for children which should be in the Christmas stockings of many children this Christmas.

It tells to story of a slightly dotty cream coloured golden retriever who is called Poppy. Poppy is a typical dog. A tiny bit spoiled and bedevilled by a good dose of canine greed!

But it's all good, because Poppy is oh, so loveable and, as a result, is a well-loved member of he human family.

However, due to a series of unfortunate incidents that occur on a family trip to the safari park, Poppy finds herself running wild and free in the safari park!

Oh, no! Whatever will Poppy do? Luckily Poppy meets a new friend, who is called Harley. Can Poppy and Harley make it safely out of the safari park? 

However, there is an added complication, because Cain the King of the Safari is out and about on the prowl in the safari, too!

Can Poppy and Harley manage to avoid Cain and make it back to safety? However, all might not be what it seems!

This is a great book for both parents and children and ideal for reading together.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.

The Gothengau Colony

The Gothengau Colony is an alternative history or alternative reality novel set in a world where Nazi Germany won the war. It is written by W. F. Logan.

The novel begins in 1946 when ex-Amish, Konrad, is in trouble. Whilst saving the life of someone in Alabama, he had to kill someone else and he must flee in order to save himself from death row.

When he reaches New York he sees propaganda calling on Americans of German ancestry to leave America for a wonderful life in Germany and its colonies.

He leaves America on a boat to Berlin, which was the capital city of the empire of the Third Reich, narrowly fleeing from a hail of bullets from police officers who were attempting to apprehend him.

Konrad is a tall man and is informed that because of his stature, in excess of two metres in height, when he reaches Germany, he will receive a medal called the Giants Cross.

Mention is made to Konrad on the ship that skilled farmers are required at the Gothengau Colony, which is in the Crimea.

Konrad is informed that because of his height he would earn an instant commission in the SS. 

On the boat he soon meets a German American singer called Petra who is slated for a good career as a singer for the Reich. Petra will also play a very important role in Konrad's life.

The novel moves forward to the Gothengau Colony in 1965. A rocket attack from there on Berlin by what the Nazis viewed as terrorists forces Konrad (who is by now a soldier-farmer (despite his Amish background) to concentrate on commanding an SS battalion made up of convicts.

He has to play both sides in a conflict he really wanted no part in, but he has others to think of, including Petra.

But will he be able to rely on the assistance of his fellow German-Americans who he arrived with two decades before? 

And who will become the new Führer to replace Hitler after his death?

This is a well-written and exciting novel that tells an interesting alternative history. 

It is published by Heart of the Bruce at £8.99.

Yotes Court Pinot Blanc

That's Christmas is looking at some English wines to accompany your Christmas feasting. And now we look at Kent's Yotes Court Hands and Heels English Wine Pinot Blanc, 2020.

Wow! Just wow! It tastes of juicy fruits of perfect ripeness and there is an "oakiness" to it, but this is not overly so, light and delightful, in fact. 

It has a good, long finish and this lends itself to a versatility for food pairings and I must admit that my wife and I feel this goes well with seafoods, fish, red meat and white meat. Please just try this and you will see what we mean.

You will be interested to learn that the vines are carefully nurtured all year round, being given individual attention from hand pruning throughout the winter, hand tucking during the summer. They even employ hand harvesting during the early autumn harvesting season. Thus making Yotes Court a genuine sustainable winery.

It's a 'proper' Pinot Blanc, which you will find to be fully and perfectly delightful. Obviously this is another one for your Christmas table.

A single bottle (75cl and 12%) costs £18. Boxes of wines (some mixed) are available from their website at https://www.yotescourt.co.uk/collection/all-products.

Meophams Union Red

That's Christmas is looking at some English wines to accompany your Christmas feasting.

We are now looking at Union Red which is from Meophams Wines of England. It's another Kentish wine which is a delightful red wine.

It's carefully created using a well-balanced variety of grapes, including Acolon, Regent, Triomphe and Leon Millot.

The wine that these red grapes produce is vibrant yet also smooth. It's a nice ruby colour and the aromas it are delightfully fruity with forest fruits like blackberries, delightfully ripe cherries and bramble fruits, too.

Are there hints of a rich, roasted coffee, too? Yes, there are. There are also some delightfully rich tannin notes which really helps make this one of the nicest red wines that I have ever tasted. 

The wine is also spicy and with smoky hints.

And I'm not exactly the biggest red wine lover in the world. Unlike my wife who prefers reds to whites and who really loves this wine.

Ideal, we feel, for red meats, so ideal if you are intending to have a Barron of Beef for your Christmas as an alternative to the more traditional turkey Christmas dinner.

It's priced at a very reasonable £13.95 and is available from their own shop at www.meophams.co.uk.

It's sold in a 75cl bottle and is 11/5%.