A festive day trip to one of Britain's top-rated Christmas markets was ultimately defined by a single, standout purchase costing less than a fiver.
A Journey to Festive Cheer
Writer Evelina Black embarked on a 40-minute train journey from Liverpool Central on November 20, 2025, to experience the much-hyped Chester Christmas Market first-hand. Living between Liverpool and Manchester, she was eager to see if the market, rated one of the best in the UK last year, lived up to its reputation.
After a further 15-minute stroll from the station, she arrived in the heart of Chester, where the festive spirit was immediately palpable. A live musician serenaded visitors with classic tunes, and countless fairy lights twinkled above the stalls, creating a traditional and enchanting atmosphere.
This year's market boasts an impressive 80 diverse traders, offering a wide array of unique goods. From handmade crafts and jewellery to stocking fillers, festive food, and an array of drinks, the market, which runs until December 22, had plenty to explore.
An Unexpected Hiccup and a Savoury Saviour
As Evelina browsed the artisan stalls, her growling stomach demanded attention. However, her culinary exploration hit an unexpected snag. A power cut threw a spanner in the works, preventing most hot food stalls from opening on time and forcing many to revert to cash-only transactions.
While these issues were resolved around 2 pm, Evelina had already begun her journey back to Liverpool. Yet, this mishap had a delicious silver lining. It led her directly to Mrs B's Bakehouse, one of the few stalls still accepting card payments.
Faced with a tempting selection of oval pies for £5.50 and rolls for £4.50, she opted for the festive roll for £4.50. The flaky pastry was filled with a winning combination of pork, stuffing, bacon, and cranberry.
"The bacon and cranberry perfectly complemented the pork without overpowering the flavour," she reported. "It was a superior sausage roll with a unique twist." She found it delicious cold, but noted the flavour intensified wonderfully after a quick heat in the microwave.
Sweet Endings and Future Plans
No Christmas market visit is complete without a sweet treat, so Evelina also indulged in a hot chocolate with all the trimmings for an additional £6. In the name of journalistic duty, she also sampled a £7 chilli con carne jacket potato from the North Pole stall, which showed promise but didn't quite hit the spot on this occasion.
Despite the temporary power issues, the trip was deemed a success, largely thanks to that standout festive roll. Evelina plans to return to the Chester Christmas Market before it closes on December 22, hoping to experience it when operations are running more smoothly and to undoubtedly grab another one of Mrs B's savoury delights.
