Merry Christmas & Thank you.

Our last blog of the year... 

Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas

2011 - In summary

This time last year we were just getting ready for 2011 with a relaunch of our brand and services.  We had completed a busy year with Weddings and Vintage Events and were about to undertake the growth of our posh parties service.  

Since then...WOW! What fun we have had over 2011 with some lovely client events which we are proud to have created.  

We have upsized our catering contracts and are now offer catering beyond 500 seated with both TGBEco parties and weddings and Vintage Days.  

We moved out of The Medicine Garden in Cobham and into our new work places and hot spots London - Oxshott - Farnham - Guildford – Godalming. 

Our key areas of London and the South East; we opened up in Barnard Castle, Co Durham through our Vintage Days catering service.  All in all, a busy year!

We hope that with your continued support through 2012, and with all that we have to look forward to; we will be busier than ever before.  

There’s a lot of celebrating to be done in and around the South East in 2012...

• Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 
• TGBEco Celebrating the Olympics summer event
• 2012 – GAMES

Rebrand 2011 took place in February when we relaunched our online presence with a new look. We took the ‘Company’ out of The Great Big Event and softened up with the Co!  We hope you like?

Some of our loveliness

TGBEco would not be successful without our teams of professional freelance contracted teams;

Without all their hard work, enthusiasm, and continuous innovative ideas around food, parties, styling and planning, TGBEco parties and TGBEco weddings would not be able to present such great parties or weddings.  

Thank you to our team of cooks and chefs headed up by our very own founder Gilly Botte;

Jackie, Ellie & Ali

David G

Kevin K

Alexander

And of course, we shall not forget our amazing front of house and service teams!!! Thank you to them for all their team work and expert management and co-ordination on the event.

Beverley, Caroline, Ads...to name our core team players! Thank you again.

Thanks to the in-house marketing, event planning, finance and project management teams too!  

Romilly, Amanda & Laura

Merry Christmas & Best Wishes 

for a prosperous 2012

^{With best wishes to you all and Thank You!}

Gilly Botte – Founder and M.D. Terry Willat – General Manager

Festive Activities

Here at the Great Big Event Co. our Christmas tree is up, 200+ mince pies were cooked last week and the Michael Buble Christmas album had to be purchased, so that means Christmas has officially started! So we thought we would give you abit of a round up of some of the Christmas activities around us that you may enjoy...

Christmas Market at Southbank/ London Eye.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of visiting the Southbank in London. Just a five minute walk from Waterloo station, London is transformed into a beautiful Christmas Market. 60+ wooden chalets line the banks of the Thames selling some beautiful craft items, gifts and novelty items. After a couple of mulled wines we purchased some gorgeous ear muffs for two little girls and fake snow (don't ask!).

In addition to the Christmas market, nestled behind the Festival Hall is the The Real Food Market...Mmm. Luckily we had already eaten but we did treat ourselves to some wonderful tasting New York Cheesecake.

With the christmas lights, traditional carousel with the backdrop of the Thames and the London Eye it really was a lovely way to spend a few hours and get into Christmas Spirit.

Southbank Christmas market is now now until 24th December (11am to 8pm weekdays and 10am to 10pm at the weekends) and is free to enter.


Other Christmas that maybe closer to you are:

Kingston - Traditional German Market - until 27th December. Open every day 10am - 8pm.

Winchester - Cathedral Christmas Market & Ice-rink. Open until 21st December; 10am to 6pm.

Manchester - Christmas Market, one of the biggest in the UK. Open to 21st December

Chester - Victorian Market. Open until 31st December.

Winter Wonderland - Hyde Park

We are not sure if we are glutens for punishment but we are planning a pre Christmas trip to Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park. It will be packed and the rides are on the pricey side, but last year we loved it. With loads for both kids and adults to watch, ponder and consume it is a real Christmas treat for everyone. For more information we advise you check out their website www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com and if you wish to see any of the shows booking is essential.

Panto - oh no it isn't...oh yes it is!

Get your Boo's and Hisses ready as Panto season is here. We are a late converts to Panto, visiting our first just 3 years ago but kids in tow we are big fans! This year we are torn between Reading Hexagon showing Aladdin with Justin from Cbeebies (parents among you will understand the appeal), Guildford our local Panto performing Jack and the Beanstalk if Santa is kind maybe we will get to both!

If you are looking for a pantomime near to you, take a look at www.bigpantoguide.co.uk they seem to have every pantomime listed.

Whatever you get up to this Christmas we hope you have a fantastic time and we wish you a very Happy New Year.

All the best from,

Gilly, Romilly and The Great Big Event team.

www.thegreatbigevent.com