Faversham Life
Faversham Life
Words Alexandra Campbell Photographs Alexandra Campbell
Christmas lights in West St. Shops include Barrows Antiques and Apotheca which offers aromatherapy oils, candles and holistic treatments. Pubs and cafes include The Sun and The Refinery
This year, Faversham has an exceptional choice of artisan and sustainably sourced presents, pop-up shops and markets. That means you can find original and individual presents – and there are lots of restaurants and cafes to enjoy too.
Open until Christmas
Creek Creative Christmas Emporium 10am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday until Friday 23 December. Creek Creative is a collective of artists’ studios, with an award-winning Gallery Kitchen Café. This year the seasonal artisan pop-up shop has a Mexican theme, but there is also jewellery, pottery and artwork from Creek Creative’s artists. Open until Friday 23 December.
See our post about the Gallery Kitchen Café and Creek Creative here.
Creek Creative’s Gallery Kitchen Café has delicious cakes, and has won awards for its gluten-free, dairy-free options. You can buy jewellery, pottery and paintings from Creek Creative’s resident artists and artisans
Edible Culture, the Horticultural Unit, The Abbey School, Faversham ME13 8RZ. Edible Culture specialises in peat-free, plastic-free plants and is selling Kent-grown Christmas trees wrapped in non-plastic hop twine. The Christmas shop sells ethically and sustainable sourced gifts for house and garden, children’s games and locally made crafts. Coffee and cakes are available at weekends. Wreaths are made from the Christmas tree clippings or foraged locally. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sundays 10am-4pm.
You can find out more about Edible Culture in this post.
The Edible Culture Christmas shop has ethically and sustainably sourced gifts for adults and children as well as locally grown Christmas trees and wreaths
One Gatefield is hosting Faversham Makers, a new artists’ collective pop up shop in Gatefield Lane (the alleyway to the left of The Alexander Centre, 17 Preston St, ME13 8NZ). There are 10 artists and crafters, whose work includes locally grown dried flower wreaths from Country Lane Flowers, pottery from Lucy Rutter, soaps from Bohemia & Flower, cards, Christmas decorations and more. Open 10am-3pm.
One Gatefield is a new artisan pop-up collective. The artists and makers take turns in looking after the shop, so you are often buying from the artist themselves
See this post for more about One Gatefield.
Weekend 9/10 December
9-11 December Faversham Christmas Markets in Market Place and Preston St. Faversham’s Friday and Saturday Charter Markets will have extra Christmas stalls and the Best of Faversham Market will be in Preston St on 10 December. On Sunday, the Charter Markets, Best of Faversham and Faversham Antiques and Vintage Market combine for a special Christmas Market.
Faversham Markets
10/11 December Pop-up shop and gallery, 97 West Street, ME17 7JQ. Emma Daniell and Jane Beedle are running a two day pop up shop selling paintings, hand-made Christmas decorations, home-made jams and jellies and other crafts. Open 10am-4pm.
97 West Street is a Medieval shop, now converted into a home. But the ancient shop front still exists and it has been transformed into a two-day pop up shop for art, Christmas decorations and more
11 December Artisan, Craft, Curios and Gift Market, The Alexander Centre, 17 Preston St, ME13 8NZ. 10am-3pm. The Alexander Centre was once the grand home of one of Faversham’s most famous Edwardian residents, Sir Sidney Alexander. It now hosts small businesses and is a venue for music, the arts, weddings, dance and fitness, talks, and regular craft fairs. There’s a café/bar, all fully accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.
Find out more about the Alexander Centre in this post.
Sir Sidney and Lady Alexander hosted many of Faversham’s leading cultural events here, and now the tradition continues, with gigs, fairs, talks and a chance to meet Santa Claus at Christmas
Weekend 17/18 December
Saturday 17 December 10am-4pm Christmas Market, The Alexander Centre, 17 Preston St, ME13 8NZ. Local traders, craftspeople and artists.
17/18 December Christmas Market at Standard Quay ME13 7BS 10am-5pm. Artisan gifts and local traders. Standard Quay is Faversham’s beautiful medieval harbour, and is the home to butchery and fish shops, a tea room, wine bar and shops selling vintage, antiques and collectables.
Standard Quay’s shops and cafes are housed in former fishermen’s or boat repair sheds and also what was the oldest working warehouse in Britain until recently
More Festive Faversham
George House window display in The Mall
10 December 2pm Carol singing at Macknade plus local food supplier samplings
17th December 9.30pm-4.30pm Meet Father Christmas in his Grotto, also children’s crafts and face painting. £8 per child. Book here.
22nd December 7pm-7.45pm Carols in the Market Place with Faversham Mission Brass.
Text and photographs: Alexandra Campbell
