This year’s Shropshire Handmade and Vintage Christmas Fair hosted by Shrewsbury-based caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure on November 25 and 26, has been sold out to exhibitors since July.

The popular annual event is such a success that the organiser Carrie Hughes, owner of Shropshire Handmade and Vintage and Pink Pebble Events, has a waiting list of exhibitors. 

Up to 60 stalls will be selling a wide range of unique handmade and vintage craft and giftware as well as food from Shropshire and the bordering counties, as the fair is set to fill Salop Leisure’s showroom and extend into sister business Love Plants’ building next door. Entry and parking are free. 

"The fair has grown considerably since we started at Salop Leisure three years ago,” said Carrie. “It’s a great venue and traders are very keen to be involved. Last year, we attracted in excess of 6,000 visitors over the weekend. 

“The stalls have been booked up since July and most traders book as early as January and pay their deposit up front because they don’t want to miss out on trading at this successful event which is designed to support independent county crafts businesses. I am so pleased that Shropshire businesses are working together to stage this fair.”

Salop Leisure will be launching its new Santa’s Grotto at the fair where there will be a range of festive entertainment over the weekend. The popular grotto will be open every weekend up until Christmas as well as on selected evenings and parents will be able to bring their children to have tea with Santa on selected dates from 3pm to 6pm.

Specialist plant centre Love Plants will have Christmas trees, decorations and wreaths for sale and Love Coffee restaurant is planning a range of festive treats. 

Ed Glover, Salop Leisure’s marketing manager, said the Christmas Fair was an excellent example of Shropshire companies working together to boost business in the run up to the festive season.

“We are determined to make Salop Leisure the place to be this Christmas,” he added. “We think there is a big need for Christmas attractions in Shrewsbury.

“Rather than closing in December like some in the caravan industry do, we spend thousands of pounds transforming our business into a winter wonderland and this Christmas is going to be exceptional. 

“Christmas is a special time of the year and it’s important that we create some magic for our customers who have young families.” 

For full details of the Salop Leisure’s Christmas events programme, visit www.salopchristmas.co.uk