Patch Christmas Market

Patch is hosting its first-ever Christmas market on Friday 21 November, and it's right in the heart of Gloucester. If you're starting your Christmas shopping early, it's a good place to pick up things you won't find on a high street shelf. The focus is on local makers and independent businesses, so the stalls are filled with handmade gifts rather than the usual mass-produced stuff. It's the venue's inaugural Christmas market, so this is the first time they've done one.

Between the stalls, there's a hot chocolate and a mulled wine to keep you warm, which is exactly what you'll want when the November chill is setting in. You can wander through and browse at your own pace, stop for a drink, and then get back to the gifts. It's a straightforward setup: local makers showing their work, a few drinks to tide you over, and plenty of handmade things to look at.

It's easy to find, too. Patch is in The Forum, at 5-7 Cathedral Walk, GL1 1DG, right in the centre of Gloucester. Entry is free, so you can just drop in for a quick look or stay for the afternoon. If you're after something a bit more personal for your Christmas shopping, this is a solid place to start.