LIFESTYLE

It's another bumper week of seasonal market and shopping goodness, with the whole city coming over all Christmassy. Some are boozy, some are crafty, but they're all absolutely free to enter (leaving you more money to spend inside, hurrah). Here's where you can get your festive on: Our top picks Very Merry Seven DialsSeven Dials is getting its Christmas on with an all-ages (yep, that includes adults) Candy Cane Lane treasure hunt that starts at Hi Cacti and winds through other indie shops and ends, naturally, with Santa. Expect late-night shopping, carol singing (from 5pm – 9pm), festive treats, DIY crafts, a winter wonderland, a makers' market, decorative windows, discounts and prizes, dog jumper and photo contests, and sleigh-loads of neighbourly cheer.Thurs 11 Dec; 4pm – 8pm St Augustine’s Christmas MarketSt Augustine’s is going delightfully extra on Saturday: over 25 makers, a choir popping in at 1pm, mulled wine and Baileys hot chocolate, cakey goodness from Cielo Cakery, sweet and savoury bites, gingerbread decorating, and even free Energy Wave taster sessions (thought to enhance wellbeing) in the studio. It's proper festive day-out material.Sat 13th Dec; 11am – 4pm Florence Road Market Christmas Fair The weekly Florence Road market has gone big this year and this Saturday sees its penultimate super-sized Christmas fair of the year. It's packed with live music, some of the best local food producers in town, wreaths, trees, and – yes – actual donkeys (they should be there between 11am and 12pm, but you know, donkeys). You'll also find another edition of Silver Spur's makers' market packed with Brighton’s quirkiest creatives: ceramics, printmakers, petal people, and all the independent oddities you didn’t know you needed. It’s the kind of neighbourhood festive energy that makes us want to move to Fiveways. Sat 13th (and 20th) Dec; 9.30am – 1.30pm (makers' market from 9am – 2pm) The Sussex Peasant Christmas MarketsThe Sussex Peasant are popping up all over the city this week, including Queens Park and Hove, with festive versions of their weekly food markets full of local producers, growers and small-batch makers. Expect seasonal treats and plenty of edible gift inspiration.Thurs 11th Dec; The Bull, Ditchling; 9am – 2pmSat 13th Dec; St Andrew's Church, Hove; 9am – 4pmSat 13th Dec; Pepper Pot, Queens Park; 9am – 3pm Wednesday to Sunday Presuming Ed’s Christmas MarketPresuming Ed’s first-ever Christmas Market is taking over the cabaret room of one of Brighton's most Brighton coffee shops with an arts-and-crafts pop-up featuring handmade gifts, creative bits and even merch from some of Brighton’s music scene favourites. A great shout for gifters who love something a bit off-centre.Wed 10th – Sun 14th; midday – 6pm (4.30pm on Thurs) Thursday Circus Street Community Christmas Get-TogetherA free festive neighbourhood knees-up with carols from Brighton Vox, Morris dancers, snacks and hot drinks from Kernel Canteen, craft activities, Santa popping by and a mini Christmas market. Wholesome stuff.Thurs 11th Dec; 4pm – 6.30pm (market open till 7pm) Flour Pot Christmas Market – FivewaysFlour Pot turns up the twinkle at Fiveways with local traders, live music, hot food specials, Christmas cocktails, mulled wine, and a tree sale. Basically your entire festive to-do list sorted without leaving the neighbourhood.Thurs 11th Dec; 6pm – 10pm North Laine Late Night Christmas ShoppingShops in the North Laine are staying up past their bedtime and bringing out the good stuff: giveaways, offers, festive nibbles and that gorgeous glow you get from shopping independent. A cracking excuse for a twinkly Thursday wander.Thurs 11th Dec; open till 8pm Mimo Late-Night ShoppingGorgeous art and makers' shop Mimo is keeping its doors open longer with some special treats: portraits, bespoke chain-stitch embroidery on tap courtesy of Gerry’s House and sweet treats from Babushka. Bring your jackets (or someone else’s) and get them stitched with names, letters or fun flash designs, then nibble cookies while you browse gift boxes for the foodie in your life. A very cute Thursday night detour on Sydney Street.Thurs 11th Dec; 5pm – 8pm Haus of Palette Sip ’n’ Shop in HoveHove has a new interiors shop and they're open for a very chic after-hours shopathon this Thursday with free fizz, new stock on the rails, festive tunes, 10 percent off for ticket-holders, and a chance to take home their Advent Hamper (a very fun lucky dip of unclaimed and bonus prizes). It's a civilised little treat-yourself evening.Thurs 11th Dec; 5.30pm – 8pm; (free) tickets here Want the good stuff straight to your inbox? You can sign up for our newsletter here. Friday and Saturday Winter Solstice at One Garden BrightonOver at One Garden at Stanmer Park, you'll find lanterns, late-night market shopping and live music under the winter sky. Expect mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies, street food, a lantern parade and a very wholesome hit of community spirit.Fri 12th & 19th & Sat 13th & 20th Dec; 4pm – 8pm; free but ticket required to guarantee entry Saturday Refugees & Asylum Christmas Crafts Fair at Stanmer ParkHead over to Stanmer Organics at Stanmer Park on Saturday for a beautiful, meaningful market inside the off-grid Earthship building, showcasing handmade gifts created by refugees from around the world. Expect warmth, community vibes, and plenty of craft stalls.Sat 13th Dec; 10am Dyke Mart Brighton at Dalton’sBrighton’s beloved Dyke Mart returns with art, apparel, zines, ceramics and gifts galore. It's a queer joyfest of brilliant creativity – and easily one of the best places to buy presents with personality.Sat 13th Dec; 11am – 4pm Café Rust Christmas Market on Preston RoadThe Preston Road outpost of foodie haven Café Rust is going full festive with mulled wine, live music, foodie treats whipped up by their chefs and a seriously gorgeous line-up of makers. Think ceramics, jewellery, bakes, decorations and cosy vibes.Sat 13th Dec; 5.30pm – 10.30pm Rainbow Craft Events: Meet the Makers at Brighton Friends Meeting HouseA colour-drenched craft takeover is happening at the Friends Meeting House with a fresh line-up of Brighton makers, cosy vibes, and a playlist you can bop around the stalls to. Think handmade gifts with actual heart and zero Amazon energy.Sat 13th Dec; 10am – 4.30pm Open Market Christmas MarketBrighton Open Market is back again this Saturday, rolling out over 80 stalls of makers, foodies, vintage sellers and colourful characters. (Fika By The Sea's excellent Swedish buns are always on our must-snag list.) Excellent for covering everyone you forgot on your list – and snagging snacks for yourself while you’re at it.Sat 13th Dec; from 10am Beau-Events Art + Makers Market at Brighton Unitarian ChurchOver 50 artists and makers are taking over the Unitarian for a giant, joyously creative Christmas fair – picture you with a mulled wine in hand, cheesy festive tunes swirling, and giant baubles and Santa’s sleigh watching over the whole thing.Sat 13th Dec; 11am – 5pm Hove Local Monthly Market: Christmas EditionThree rooms, two floors and a seriously eclectic spread of makers at Cornerstone Community Centre: children’s jumpers, stationery, jewellery, ceramics, natural soaps, Indian and Italian snacks, mulled wine, vintage pieces and Asian/North African artefacts – plus a whole room of mixed-media crafts upstairs. A proper community Christmas market with loads to rummage through.Sat 13th Dec; 1.30pm – 5pm READ ALSO: Christmas wreath workshops in Brighton & Hove Saturday and Sunday Paper Daisy Festive Makers Fair at Wagner HallWagner Hall is turning into a full-on festive bunker of indie brilliance this weekend: over 70 makers, mulled wine, sweet-and-savoury temptations, street food favourites, plus drop-in wreath workshops if you’re feeling crafty. A guaranteed gift-finding win.Sat 13th and Sun 14th Dec; 10.30am – 4.30pm Artists Open Houses around the cityAnd don't forget the glorious Artists Open Houses festival where you can find studios, living rooms and very chic sheds flinging open their doors across the city. Across Hove, Fiveways, Kemptown, Rottingdean and all the fun bits in between, local artists are turning their homes into mini galleries packed with ceramics, textiles, prints, jewellery and handmade gifts that actually feel thoughtful (and not last-minute-panic-buying from Mr Bezos). You can't really go wrong, but we'd highly recommend Sarah Arnett's multi-maker Little Picture Palace, the Amber Elise studio, Lichen House, and Portland Place by Twofolde, if you're after specifics. Sat 13th & Sun 14th; free Sunday Afrori Books Christmas PartyAfrori Books are throwing a cosy Christmas do with mulled wine (and mulled apple), mince pies and a soundtrack supplied by their very own Afrori Voices Choir. Expect a chilled, joy-heavy evening – and it’s all for a good cause, with every penny going to Voices in Exile, who support refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants across Sussex.Sun 14th Dec; 7pm – 9pm Winter Fayre at The SignalmanThe Signalman is hosting a cosy little Winter Fayre in their marquee, bringing together local artists, handmade gifts and mulled wine for a relaxed Sunday rummage. Low-key, local and properly festive — ideal for a gentle browse, a warming drink and a bit of Christmas cheer without the crowds.Sun 14th December; 12pm – 5pm How the Deviant Stole XXXmas at Komedia BrightonDeviants Market is bringing a gloriously naughty twist to Christmas shopping with a kink-positive makers’ market taking over Komedia for the day. Expect over 30 sex-positive, queer-owned businesses, handcrafted gifts, art, accessories and plenty of spicy stocking fillers, plus raffles, erotic workshops, and a friendly, inclusive vibe. It's worth sticking around after dark, too for when the evening flips into a full-throttle kinky cabaret show, with burlesque, drag, live vocals and rope play.Sun 14th December; Market: 10.30am – 4pm; from free; Cabaret: 7pm – 10pm; from £15 Lewes Road Inn Night Market: Christmas EditionThis is one market that refuses to go to bed – it all kicks off after dark: local makers, beers in hand, and 20+ stalls tucked in and around a brilliantly characterful pub. Bonus points: it coincides with their week-long ale fest.Sun 14th Dec; 6pm – 10pm Get outta town Light Up Shoreham Christmas MarketShoreham is going all out Christmas-style on Friday with late-night shopping, live entertainment and food and makers' stalls spilling across East Street, the Shoreham Centre, and Pond Road plus a lantern light trail by Same Sky in St Mary de Haura churchyard. Expect choirs, pirate ukuleles, sea shanties from the Wellington Wailers and plenty of cosy small-town sparkle.Fri 12th Dec; 3.30pm – 8.30pm Beak x Pharmacie Christmas MarketLewes gets a festive glow-up as Beak Brewery and Pharmacie Coffee join forces for a Christmas market packed with local artists, makers and producers. Expect gastro-pub inspired plates from Beaufort & Barley, cosy cups from Pharmacie Coffee Roasters and brewery-fresh pints from Beak all afternoon. A proper indie winter warm-up with stellar stalls and live music.Sat 13th Dec; 12pm – 4pm Gun Brewery Christmas Fair & Food MarketGun Brewery is doing Christmas properly this weekend with a big, boozy makers’ fair at the taproom. Expect a stacked line-up of local stalls (cheese, jewellery, ceramics, chocolate, spirits, gifts you’ll actually want to give), plus street food, mulled cider, live music and very good beer on tap. Basically: last-minute present panic, solved - with a pint in hand.Sat 13th & Sun 14th December; midday – 5pm Got a Christmas market coming up? Let us know!

LIFESTYLE

What we’re loving at the moment.

BOTI’s bumper list of Christmas markets and shopping nights in Brighton this week

Our pick of the Christmas fairs in Brighton and beyond

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