SANTA made an early visit to Arkell’s this week, to check that everything was ready ahead of the brewery’s annual Arkell’s Christmas Market, being held at the brewery this Saturday.

But eagle-eyed children from Ruskin School spotted him as they made their way home from school on Monday.

Last year over 2000 people flocked to Wiltshire brewery Arkell’s first Christmas Market to visit Father Christmas and his reindeer, buy last minute presents from local craftspeople, and enjoy festive music from the Pegasus Brass Band.

This year Arkell’s is expanding its food court to welcome local sausage makers and artisan bakers alongside cheese, fudge, meats and patisserie producers’ stalls. The brewery will also be welcoming a coffee van, milk shakes and waffle sellers, bratwurst sausage sellers and fresh pizza makers to keep visitors fed and watered as they enjoy the Christmas spirit in the grounds of one of the UK’s oldest and most atmospheric steam breweries. The Pegasus Brass Band will be joined by ukulele band The Ukey D'Ukes.

Arkell’s Christmas Market will be held outside, in the grounds of Arkell’s. Along with stalls selling crafts from handmade jewellery to candles, children’s clothing, glass bowls and wooden chopping boards, to a wider variety of food, Father Christmas and his reindeer will also be in attendance. The event starts at 10am until 3pm. Father Christmas from 10.30am-12pm and 1.30pm-2.30pm, the reindeer from 10.30-1pm, along with fair rides, hot food stalls and the live music.