Birmingham German Christmas Markets

[Caran]

Went today with our U3A. Very well organised coach trip, but didn't think much of the whole thing. All very spread out. A lot of tat. All at very extortionate prices.
There was nothing I looked at and considered do I want to buy it. Apart from pork scratching, 100g for £2. No way hose. Will not be going again.

[Caran]

Had a good meal in the Railway Pub. 2 meals for £8.50, I had gammon, egg, pineapple, chips and peas, OH had steak and Ale Pie, Chips, peas and gravy. Excellent.

[Jackdaw33]

Agree. We have one coming up this weekend. Same old stuff. Went to the French cheese stall hoping to buy some real Camembert. Offered me the same stuff I could buy in Morrisons, but a pound dearer. No thanks.

[Caran]

Talking to members who have been before. Cardiff was a disaster but Worcester was a really good one. We didn't go to them so cannot judge.

[Caran]

At the market were living statues. Quite a few were sitting on a non describable
Non object. They had a hand on a walking stick and nothing else. Did this stretch through his sleeve round his body and create an all in stool?

[Cloverjo]

Yes, same with the one at Hyde Park. Overpriced stuff that you can get anywhere else for less.
The one at Bristol a couple of years ago was even worse. At least at Hyde Park you could go skating.

[Mosaic]

Caran, some of the 'statue' people have devised really tricky armatures that go under their costume to support weird positions, or magic carpets etc.

I found last year's Manchester Christmas market much as you describe - stall after soggy wet dismal stall of same old stuff, and burgers at £8.

[Tilly2]

You have to go to Germany to experience a proper German Christmas Market.

[murraymints]

Edinburgh has a HUGE one...lots of eats/drinks/craft stalls..expensive as usual...several skating rinks..big wheel..carousels etc etc..nice music lots of gluhwein and sparkly lights...nice atmosphere if you can stand the crowds...but bring a fat wallet !

[ummmm]

I've always enjoyed it when we've been but we mainly go to meet up with McFluff, drink hot wine, and Fluff and my OH hunt out sausages...

[Hopkirk]

We went to the German Market at Tate Modern in London last year.

I was not impressed.

The only thing I bought was some sort of mulled wine, and I still feel bilious at the thought of it.

The people manning the stalls didn't seem very Teutonic to me.

[ubasses]

Best bit when we went last year was the concert in the evening that was great.

[hc4361]

Birmingham has been having a German Christmas market for years and it's high time they had a British Christmas market showcasing small businesses and crafts people, perhaps with a Dickensian theme.

[zebo]

The Lincoln one is supposed to be good. We once went into Manchester and that was good, but as has been said, most of the stuff can be bought cheaper in supermarkets and a Christmas market needs a Kathe Wohlfahrt to show truly extortionate baubles, off to Hamburg in a couple of weeks, my favourite!

[murraymints]

Frankfurt best for me !

[hc4361]

Lincoln market is up a very steep hill

[Hopkirk]

I didn't know there were any hills in Lincolnshire, Hc.

[hc4361]

It's at the top of Steep Hill, Hopkirk, which has a 1:7 gradient

[bobbie22]

Went to a Christmas market in cologne a few years ago. It was really nice, but we ended up in an Irish pub where we stayed for the rest of the afternoon. S'great.

[-SharonA-]

There are lots of Christmas Markets being held locally this weekend. Both selling local products and crafts. I will be giving it a visit.

[maggiebee]

Been to a couple of German Christmas Markets here in Dundee, but find them overpriced. Can get the same stuff in Morrisons much cheaper.