Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but Crickhowell is so delightful…especially tonight as it’s the annual Late Night Shopping in Crickhowell. By now, you’ll be aware that Crickhowell High Street has been named the best High Street in the entire UK, which means that if you have Christmas shopping to do (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) then it makes sense to venture there to meet your gift giving needs and soak up some Christmas magic while you’re at it.
Tonight, from 4.30pm, Crickhowell comes alive with the spirit of Christmas, with the independent businesses in town staying open late and offering a warm welcome to customers. Mince pies may well be involved among various tasters, demos and all sorts to add a bit of Christmas sparkle to things. Here at the Focus, we recommend paying a visit to our friends at Natural Weigh, where you can find some really great stocking fillers that literally won’t cost the earth. Then, of course, there’s Book-ish where you’ll find so much more than books – Emma stocks toys and stationery and all manner of delights. And if you can’t find what you need; order it with them! If you’re thinking of putting together a snazzy Christmas hamper for someone special, pop into Cashells – they have everything you could possibly think of and more for a hamper to suit all budgets, and CwCw have some absolutely gorgeous accessories from handbags to scarves and sublime pieces of jewellery. Purple Flamingo in the Courtyard must not be missed for their fantastic array of retro clothing and cute and kitsch accessories and jewellery (their pins are FAB stocking stuffers). Pop into our friends at Crickhowell Adventure – an absolute treasure trove of everything outdoorsy. They have some wonderful gifts for anyone who appreciates the great outdoors and needs a bit of equipment to make their adventures easier and more practical. You must not leave Crickhowell without visiting the wonderful CRiC Centre – the heart of Crickhowell! There will be a Christmas tree decorating competition going on this evening, so go and take a look, and while you’re there visit the Christmas exhibition in the gallery and get some inspiration for beautifully crafted gifts.
The festive fun does not stop there. A Christmas Fair, spanning three venues – Clarence Hall, The Courtyard and St Edmund’s Church – will be taking place as well! Here you will find everything from crafts and ornaments to paintings, textiles, smoked meats, bread, coffee and a tipple or two! The wonderful St Edmund’s will be offering a numbers of children’s activities to ensure the evening will be fun for the whole family! There will be a full programme of music and singing throughout the town, bringing festive spirit and cheer to the town and casting some Christmas magic along the way.
After all that shopping, you might need to take the weight off for a moment or five, and there’s so much choice in Crickhowell. In fact, you might need to do a bit of a cafe/pub crawl to sample all the loveliness in places like Latte Da where they’re always baking up a delicious storm; Brownies & Brunch by O’Donnells Bakehouse where the brownies are sublime (take a box home!); The Bear Hotel where the food is outstanding, the drinks are memorable and the atmosphere is second to none; The Pantry Coffee House & Brunchery where you can enjoy a free mulled wine and buy gift wrapped cakes (try not to eat it yourself!) and the Dragon Inn with its welcoming cosiness where, on 15th & 16th December you can go ice skating!! Book with them directly while you’re there!
The fun kicks off from 4.30pm today and even though it might be raining a little bit, take heart in the fact that most things are happening under cover and the weather is mild! Enjoy this evenings events and remember that by supporting your independent retailers, you’re supporting the local economy and the people who keep the town ticking over.
Merry Crickhowell Christmas!