Before Christmas, I explored Winterville, a new(ish) attraction based in trendy Clapham Common in South West London.
By Ella Baskerville
Winterville markets itself as the “alternative festive experience‘.
Trying to break away from traditional Christmas markets and fairs like Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, Winterville has everything that will appeal to the modern millennial and they (we) were out in force.
Whilst the event still has a ferris wheel and rides, it had a large choice of gourmet street food (from co-founder Street Feast) which includes everything from bao buns and churros to souvlaki and bavette steak with chimichurri.
A Backyard Cinema and a Winterville Christmas
There are also a range of other attractions. These include a roller disco, plonk golf and a Backyard Cinema. In this you had to enter through a wardrobe and walk through a forest. You then arrived at your sofa. This was in a richly themed marquee. We watched Love Actually – very Christmassy indeed.
Events are run through the season at the attraction. Some of them are free. These include drag queens, cabaret, Mexican wrestling and musical bingo. You can even do Yoga on the ice rink. Each quirky event is aimed at young professionals looking for that “different’ thing to do in London.
With it’s bright neon branding, photo opportunities and artsy feel, the whole event felt instragm-worthy which played straight to the audience- everyone was in their twenties or thirties and everyone was spending. The events, the food, the rides and the mulled wine adds up so I spent probably the same amount as I would in a theme park but for a few hours in the evening, but it felt worth it for the atmosphere and Christmas cheer (and the likes on insta).
Winterville is only in it’s second year but is already the biggest Christmas event south of the river.- Ronnie Joice on Twitter even snapped it from above.
