Festive Winter Fair brings seasonal sparkle to Victoria Baths

On Saturday 12 November and Sunday 13 November (11am to 4pm) Victoria Baths will be decking its pool halls up for its annual Festive Winter Fair. Makers from Manchester and beyond will be creating a joyful Christmas shopping experience with each stall selected for the beautiful products that they will be selling. Tickets, bookable in advance and on the door, are £5 (including a donation to Victoria Baths Trust), £4, or free for VB Friends and U16s.

Taking place under the shelter of Victoria Baths’ vaulted glass roofs you’ll find over 50 stalls. The addition of music means this is an event full of merriment. On Saturday SheChoir and on Sunday Ordsall Acappella Singers will be filling the building with their stunning vocal performances, both at 2pm. In the Tea Room, as well as serving mince pies, cakes and refreshments, the aroma of mulled wine will be adding to the seasonal atmosphere.

The fair is full of original ideas as the range of homewares highlights. There are funky cushions and lamps from The Gingham Flamingo, the illustrations of Lydia Meiying feature on tea towels, mugs, enamel pins, stationery and much more, plus the stunning ceramics of Gabi Komar. And for the finishing touch: luscious house plants from Kim Moore & Khalil Adesanya.

With gift ideas for everyone, art lovers will be spoilt for choice. Debbie Hill will be selling paintings of local landscapes, Christmas cards and coasters. The colourful contemporary work of artist Donna Flowers-Dorning will bring some sunshine to a winter’s day and Jess Levine’s abstract prints will catch everyone’s eye.

Some of the region’s most creative jewellery designers, all with very different styles, will be present. These include Jill Green, Joolzery, Julia Emelogu, Kylie Yeung Jewellery Design, La Pearle, Sulie Bear Silver, The Magpie’s Daughter and Wild and Free Clay. Expect gemstones, recycled materials, crystals, clay work, vintage and antique pieces.

If you are a dog owner there is plenty to get your four-legged friend’s tail wagging. From full sartorial attire including bandanas and bowties to adorable accessories, Wren & Rye will showcase a fabulous collection of pooch products. And when it comes to mealtime then the Vegan Poochy Treats’ stall will be fully of tasty ideas.

Vegan collections are a theme that runs through a number of the stalls. Old Man and Magpie Candles will have their hand-poured, small batch, vegan friendly natural soy wax candles, that are scented using pure essential oils and presented in apothecary style amber glass jars. Complementing the range are the soaps from Herd and Elder, which are made from goat’s milk, or by using a vegan traditional cold process. And there is a gorgeous range of vegan skincare from Wild Venus, including bombs, body butter, body scrub and bath salts.

The hand knitted delights of Bracken and Moss Design will put smiles on faces whether you are buying decorations for your Christmas tree, a gift or stocking filler. Manchester bees, toadstools, hedgehogs and gingerbread men are amongst the goodies. From the traditional to the contemporary, the colourful knitted blankets, tops and bags, all come from the imagination of Zebra Knits.

Giving someone a bottle of their favourite tipple is a Christmas staple, but what makes Witch Kings Rum products special is that everything is artisan made in Manchester, including gift sets, syrups and cordials. They are joined by Winding River Ltd who will be stocking spirits from their in-house distillery, which include a Manchester Gin, Victoria Baths Gin and festive inspired liqueurs in spiced honey whisky, orange brandy and coffee liqueur.

And finally, there are stocking fillers, tea towels, jigsaw puzzles, books, tote bags and much more to be found in the VB Gift Shop. All sales made in the shop and volunteer run Tea Room support the work of Victoria Baths Trust.

As well as browsing the stalls you can also explore the building by booking on a guided tour, with two versions available: Discover Victoria Baths on both Saturday and Sunday at 12noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, available to book in advance or on arrival. Plus, the Off Limits Tour (recommended for Peaky Blinders fans!) will be running on Saturday at 1.00pm with limited tickets available on the door. Both cost £8 (free for VB Friends and U16s).

All proceeds from the Festive Winter Fair help to support the work of Victoria Baths Trust, which oversees the upkeep of the Grade II* listed building and ensures that it remains open as a cultural venue and community resource.

information on Victoria Baths visit www.victoriabaths.org.uk