Get Festive at Eldon Square this Christmas

Christmas Gift Tips with Vicky Pattison

Eldon Square’s festive season kicks off with a very special visit from none other than Geordie native Vicky Pattison. She’s heading back to her hometown and swinging by Eldon Square on Wednesday 4^th November to highlight its wide mix of shops, alongside meeting shoppers and helping them find the perfect gifts for people who are hard to buy for.

Vicky will be stationed outside Sephora and NEXT from lunchtime, so head on down if you’re looking for some great gift inspiration! She’ll also be spreading even more festive cheer by supporting the recipients of Eldon Square’s annual gift donation box – Cash for Kids and its Mission Christmas campaign and Evry at Newcastle City Council, but more on that below!

Festive Family Fun Weekend

Next up, Eldon Square is hosting two whole days of free family fun from Saturday 14^th November to Sunday 15^th November with their Big Christmas Weekend that’s bound to get you in the festive spirit!

There’s the chance to meet Santa Claus himself (with quiet sessions available, also free but tickets must be booked) outside NEXT that’s aimed kids aged up to 12 – perfect for snapping that memorable festive photograph! Little ones can also see how naughty or nice they’ve been this year with the Elves’ Goodometer and take on the Christmas Claw Grabber with the chance to win amazing prizes including a £50 Eldon Square gift card, a meal for two at The Alchemist or a whole year’s supply of Millie’s Cookies – yum!

That’s not all either! There’ll also be loads of roaming entertainment across Eldon Square over the weekend including the Naughty Grinch, the Candy Cane Elves and festive stilt walkers – plus performances from the electrifying LED drummer group Spark! too.

And, because Eldon Square is all about giving back this Christmas, little ones can get their faces painted festive-style at the Community Quarter in return for a donation to Eldon Square’s charity partners for the weekend, Newcastle United Foundation and Tyneside & Northumberland Mind – two fantastic local organisations doing amazing things for the region and its residents!

For a rundown of all the festive fun, including times and locations, visit the Eldon Square website.

Get Your Christmas Shopping Done

Maybe you got some top tips from Vicky Pattison during her visit, or perhaps you’ve got it all figured out on your own – either way, Eldon Square is a one-stop shop for all your Christmas shopping adventures!

If you’re shopping for the fashionista in your life, there’s everything from high street chic at the likes of New Look and H&M to designer threads to shop for at John Lewis and Fenwick, or for makeup and beauty lovers, you cant go amiss with a trip to PURESEOUL, Molton Brown and Boots.

For tech buffs, you’re bound to find a gift to suit at Apple and Argos and there are tonnes of perfect stocking filler pressies to discover at stores including Søstrene Grene, MINISO, Ryman and Hotel Chocolat – from candles and collectibles to stationery and sweet treats.

Splashing out on a loved one, or perhaps even planning to pop the big question on Christmas Day? Stores like Austen & Blake, Beaverbrooks and Ernest Jones can help you shop for necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings too. Basically, whatever you’re shopping for, Eldon Square has a destination to suit!

Fuel Up on Festive Food

Christmas shopping is hungry work but don’t worry because Eldon Square has you sorted when those bellies start rumbling!

Grey’s Quarter is home to plenty of great restaurants, with many of them offering special menus throughout the festive season. Say “Buon Natale” to an Italian feast with a festive twist at Bella Italia who are offering a two courses for £22.95 or three courses for £27.95 set Christmas menu with dishes like their Christmas carbonara and festive camembert pizza.

Or, you could spice things up with a fiesta at Chiquito – with festive empanadas and a festive chicken burger to munch on, their Christmas menu (two courses for £20.50, three for £25.50) is certainly tempting our taste buds!

If it’s Thai food that gets those taste buds tingling, book a table at Chaophraya. They’re offering three set menus throughout November and December, each themed around a different region of Thailand and its cuisine – the Chiang Mai, the Bangkok and the vegan-friendly Phuket menu. All menus feature three dishes and Chaophraya’s signature Christmas dessert, the white chocolate bombe.

Shopping ‘til you drop can be thirsty work too and if you’d like to throw in a few well-earned cocktails, there’s no better place to head than The Alchemist. Alongside enjoying three courses for £42.50 – like the turkey in a basket or festive burger – you can sip on some concoctions created specially for Christmas including the Festive Bellini and Charcoal Colada.

Donate a Gift to a Worthy Cause

As we hinted at before, Eldon Square is once again bringing back its gift donation box and this year it’s all in aid of the fantastic work of the Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas campaign and Newcastle City Council’s Evry initiative.

Both work to improve the lives of children and young people in the region and Eldon Square shoppers are encouraged to buy an extra gift or a gift card if able to help spread a little joy and give a young ‘un a gift to open on Christmas Day. Gifts and gift cards suitable for kids aged 0-18 years can be dropped off at the gift donation box which will be in place next to the Customer Service Desk outside Fenwick until Thursday 17^th December. Find out more on the Eldon Square website.

Eldon Square is a one-stop shop for all you need this Christmas – be it shopping, enjoying a meal or keeping the kids entertained! Find out more about all Eldon Square has to offer this festive season at eldonsquare.co.uk/christmas-events-at-eldon-square.

Featured images courtesy of Eldon Square