It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Newcastle and it's not just because of Fenwick's window or the switch-on of the city's festive lights.
A new pop-up Christmas bar, designed like a grotto with sparkling decorations, trees and tinsel, opened on Thursday afternoon with something to appeal to all the senses - and that includes festive aromas in the air.
Christmas on Pilgrim Street, unveiled inside The Market Lane, follows in a tradition of owner Malhotra Group's pop-ups which included 2018's Miracle On Grey Street takeover of what is now Leila Lily's.
Read more: Christmas cracker of a panto guide to North East shows
This time The Market Lane, which itself underwent a pub-to-cocktail-bar revamp before lockdown, has now had a temporary makeover and its launch on the day of the switch-on of Newcastle 's Christmas lights saw it all set to welcome first customers with a festive soundtrack.
Aromas of spice fill the air and throughout the season of goodwill the bar will be screening Christmas films and serving up a menu of newly-created cocktails, starting at £6.
Among them is It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Gin-mas while others come decorated with the likes of glitter citric acid, candy canes and polar bear-shape ice cubes.
Other ' naughty or nice' options have names such as Tinsel Toon, Cookies for Father Christmas and The Grinch Who Got Mortal while other festive drinks include mulled wine and hot chocolate, with or without a boozy addition.
Bethany Williams, head of sales and marketing at Malhotra Group, says families too are welcome at the pop-up and they can take advantage of some picture-perfect opportunities, such a selfies with a giant Nutcracker doll as a backdrop.
In the bar there's also a hidden elf door which children would have fun seeking out, while in the back lounge area there is a nod to the historic building's previous name, The Monkey Bar, with a monkey in a Santa hat.
Christmas on Pilgrim Street takes over The Market Lane until January and is open for table bookings and walk-ins alike.
The Malhotra Group is also currently at work in the premises adjoining The Market Lane which is to house a new coffee shop.
For the latest What's On news, announcements and reviews direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
