Hansel and Gretel story comes to life
This Christmas you can celebrate the festive season in style by dining in a life-size gingerbread house, created by pastry chef Magdalena Abakumiec and her elves at Titanic Hotel Belfast. Inspired by the fairytale Hansel and Gretel and the heritage of German born Gustav Wolff, one half of the shipbuilding founders of Harland & Wolff, the gingerbread house took four days to cook and build. It stands 10ft tall, it is made from 1,000 gingerbread bricks with 10kgs of sweets and candy canes decorating the walls.The enclosed dining space in the Wolff Grill seats up to six and can be hired for private dining until Christmas at an additional £50. Titanichotelbelfast.com
Bear-ry Christmas at The Merchant Hotel
The Merchant Hotel's festive theme is based on traditional Victorian teddy bears. Featured are 54 vintage and antique bears, the majority adorning the Merchant's 25ft Christmas tree. The hotel has also launched its own range of teddy bears, with a £5 donation from the sale of each one going towards the charity PIPS. During December, guests can enjoy afternoon tea with a festive twist with live music daily from 12.30pm until 4.30pm. More info at Themerchanthotel.com
A New Year in Swedish Lapland
Looking for a unique way to ring in 2020? You can capture the magical Northern Lights on a photo tour through the Abisko National Park, discover hidden gems on a snowmobile, then climb a mountainside – with the help of a team of huskies – in Swedish Lapland. On New Year's Eve enjoy a gala dinner and toast to the New Year, before sending rice lanterns into the sky. A three-night stay in Bjorkliden costs from £1,090 pp, including half-board accommodation, flights (Gatwick) and transfers. Departs December 30. Sunvil.co.uk
West Cork for a post-festive break
Fill that lull between Christmas and New Year with a refreshing break to west Cork. Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff is a destination wellness resort ideally situated to make the most of the wonderful scenery and old-world charm of the area. Steeped in over 250 years of history, its former guests have included WB Yeats, Maureen O’Hara and George Bernard Shaw. You can recover from Christmas festivities in the recently opened Spa and Wellness centre. Overnight stays are from €119 per night. See Eccleshotel.com
