Frohe Weihnachten! (Leeds German Christmas Market)

Member Name: bamamo

Product:	Leeds German Christmas Market
Date:	16/12/08 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A nice festive activity, tasty foods, friendly stall-holders, good place to find unique gifts

Disadvantages: The tent can get busy, not as much as in previous years to see

I'm not exactly Scrooge, but I don't like Christmas all that much either. Most occasions where forced (or perhaps I should say "required") merriment is expected usually don't go down too well with me. I do however quite enjoy the run up to the big day, and end up somehow deflated when it arrives.

This year part of the run-up involved a visit to the Leeds Christinkindelmarkt - that's German Christmas market to you and I! Somehow despite living in Leeds my whole life, and the market having been here since 2002, I had never been. A couple of weeks ago I found myself eating lunch with a friend in a bar behind the market (located in Millennium Square), so we decided to have a quick wander round. Unfortunately neither of us had much time, or cash, so we decided to come back at night time to catch the German show band.

Well, one thing and another cropped up and we didn't make it to the oompah band. Yeah, we're pretty disappointed about that - Oktoberfest is on my to-do list and that's practically the same! But we DID get to go back to the market albeit in the day and have a proper look around.

The market consists of, according to the Leeds City Council website, over 30 stalls. To be honest, I didn't think it looked that big, we got around it pretty quickly. My mum has been every year and wasn't at all impressed this year compared to previous years.

Firstly there are stalls selling gifts including jewellery, beeswax candles shaped like reindeer etc, speciality foods, Christmas ornaments...to name a few. Our personal favourite was a stall selling woolly hats, bags, purses and accessories. We spent a long time picking out the perfect hat and had fun trying on ridiculous ones we wish we were brave enough to wear. In the end the one I chose was £10, which is certainly dearer than buying one of a guy with a cart on the street, but a hell of a lot better made and cheaper than you would find at most online stores.

There are plenty of places to eat at the market too. There are several stalls selling sweets, crepes, etc and one offering bizarre snowball-type things which consist of marshmallow with a waffle base. I opted for an After Eight flavour one and sort of wish I hadn't - sickly isn't the word. We also enjoyed German sausage in baguette for lunch - very tasty and not too pricey at around £2.50. I quite enjoyed the fact that the garlic bread stall was shaped like a glove of garlic. The main tent offers a wider selection of traditional German foods, and you can also buy sausages and cakes at a couple of stalls to take home.

We ate in a small "grotto" I guess is what they were going for. It was cosy and warm, with long tables and a roaring fire..but also a little strange. Fake windows stuck to the walls? I guess they must have windows in Germany then. How authentic!

The stallholders we encountered were friendly and helpful, although I wonder how authentically German some of them were. While we were eating, an elderly couple nearby asked a worker who was clearing up (very efficiently may I add - the place was spotless) what the German writing on their mug was. He seemed totally baffled, but it transpired it only meant "Merry Christmas". Surely not the most complex of translations for a native to explain?

Besides the stalls and dining options, the fair offers a few children's rides - a carousel, bumper cars, etc. To be honest, while they were all on the same side of the market, it did cheapen the feel a little bit and totally wasn't in the feel of the rest of the market, which consists of wooden "chalet-style" stalls.

At night-time, the main tent besides having food and a selection of German beers is host to the Herr Jens Bavarian Oompah Band Thursday to Sunday afternoon/evening. It does tend to get busy and there is security on the door to keep numbers down - and under-aged market-goers out after a certain time.

The market is on until December 21, so there's still time to catch it before it packs up for the year. Opening hours are 10.30am - 9pm Mon-Sat and 10.30am to 8pm on Sundays. Some stalls and the main tent stay open until 11pm except on Sundays.

Millennium Square is in central Leeds, well sign-posted and about 15 mins walk from both the bus and train stations. There is also nearby parking at The Light, and a cash point by the back of the dodgems!

For more info visit Leeds City Council's website. (I couldn't link because it said the link was too long...Google Leeds Christkindelmarkt!)

Summary: A nice way to spend an hour or so this festive season!