The best place to go shopping for original and authentic Christmas gifts and decorations is a Christmas Market.

On our Dates For The Dairy blog we talked about the fantastic markets in Germany and Austria where you can buy hand made tree decorations, traditional Christmas food and sweets, and original toys and gifts. But you don’t have to travel all the way to Austria or Germany to experience the excitement of a Christmas fair. This year Covent Garden’s Delux Christmas is promising to be just as good as the overseas fairs.

Covent Garden market will be bustling with people exhibiting and selling everything from gourmet mince pies to hand knitted jumpers. There will be different events taking place every day during the fair. These include nativity plays with the choir of St. Pauls church and performances from Acrobatics Company Cirqu U Arial, and there’s even a Couture gift wrapping service so you can present your unique gifts in style. Visit the Covent Garden Delux Website to find out exactly whats on on the day that you visit.

Finding a good fish restaurant is actually quite a challenge, so when I stumbled across one in Portsmouth I was extremely pleased. Loch Fyne restaurants are home to excellent sea food and shell fish, definitely worth a trip.

The restaurants in Portsmouth and Guildford have smart décor, a pleasant atmosphere and delectable food. Although the menu is extensive I recommend the shell fish platters, perfect for sharing. Enjoy either Crab or Lobster complimented by Oysters, crayfish, scallops, prawns and muscles to name a few.

There are many Loch Fyne restaurants so visit www.lochfyne.com to find out if there is one near you and check out the delicious menu. The hot and cold shellfish platter with crab is £34, the hot and cold shellfish platter with lobster is £44 or the hot shellfish platter with lobster is also £44.

In true tradition, Sheffield hosts another fire work spectacular on Monday the 5th of November also known as Bonfire Night, called After Dark.

Previous years have seen acts such as Girls Aloud, Matt Willis and Simon Webb take to the stage along with the spectacular fire work display. This year although there is no word as to who will be performing you can enjoy fireworks to music at 8.30pm, Real Radio stage, a giant fun fair with a bonfire and fire spinners.

The event is being held at Dom Valley Bowl, Sheffield and begins at 5.30pm till 10pm. Tickets are £7 for anyone aged 14 and above, children under 14 coast £4 and under 3’s are free. Book yours through the hotline on 0114 256 5656 or buy on the day. Read more at www.sheffieldevents.co.uk.

There are a wide choice of public fireworks parties to attend around Guy Fawkes night, you don’t just have to chose the one nearest to you. One of the best events in London is Battersea Park fireworks.

Tickets are only £5 for adults and £1 for under 10s - which is cheaper than a lot of outside London events. The display takes place on Saturday the 3rd of November and it is expected that there will be an audience of 55,000 people. Gates open at 6, the massive bonfire will be lit at 7:30 and the award winning fireworks display starts at eight. The show boasts a laser light experience and music based on the theme of tantrums and tiaras.

There will be plenty of stalls and fairground attractions, including places to buy mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, hot dogs, hot chocolate and even a Mediterranean barbecue! You can get tickets at the door or 020 8871 8108 call for more information.

London’s Wine Show is on this week and ends on Sunday. If you want to pop down this week and take advantage of two for one tickets visit The Wine Show website or call 0870 890 0094.

There are still tickets available at the door for tonight as well as the finale on Sunday. Tonight’s preview evening allows a chance to discover wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region and Islington’s Business Design center will be transformed into a Mediterranean setting. The red carpet evening will feature a barbeque of dishes from the region to complement the wine, tutored wine tasting sessions, talks and entertainment hosted by wine connoisseur Oz Clarke.

Sunday is promising an equally vibrant event with more food, wine tasting and tutoring from wine experts. Don’t miss this once a year experience!

I had heard Bar 23 in Sheffield City Centre was a stylish, modern and trendy place to be seen, I just didn’t know where to find it. Vodka Revolution in West One has been a regular haunt of mine and looking around the area I had noticed the great selection of restaurants, I had just failed to notice Bar 23 hidden in the corner.

The bar definitely joins Crystal, Ruby Lounge and Vodka Revolution in being one of the nicest bars in Sheffield. It’s modern, sleek décor adds to its elite atmosphere and attracts the fashionable and the affluent. The cocktails are amazing and well worth the £5 charge per drink. I recommend the baby doll, my friends suggest the margarita, but see what takes your fancy. Overall a lovely evening but it does get very busy on a weekend, so get there early too avoid standing all evening and maybe even book yourself a table at the restaurant which I hear is great too.

Bar 23 is located at unit 3, the plaza, 8 Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield City Centre. Visit www.23barandrestaurant.co.uk for more information.

I read a review of Sugar Reef in a magazine quite a while ago but I never got around to trying the venue. Recently, my friends and I were looking for a trendy place to eat and drink in London and after thinking back at places I had heard to be hip I remembered Sugar Reef.

We booked a table for a Thursday evening which was a great time to do dinner, as it wasn’t overly crowded, but busy enough with a complimenting jazz band. The décor is sleek and stylish, the service was lovely and the set menu was perfect. I recommend the fresh soup of the day with rustic bread followed by the sirloin steak which was delectable.

For more information about Sugar Reef visit www.sugarreef.co.uk or call 020 7851 0800 to make a reservation. The Sugar Reef bar and restaurant is situated at 42-44 Great Windmill Street, London, W1 and the nearest tube in Picadilly.

If you work in the city of London you probably walk through it everyday but take for granted the atmosphere and history of the buildings and parks around you. I know I do…..I used to get a real buzz out of coming to London and being surrounded by some of the most exciting sights in the whole world but I have lost that awe that I first felt walking through the streets.

Well, if you want to appreciate the history around you a bit more why not take part in a one of the guided city walks that are taking place this Halloween time. Not only are they a great way to learn about some of the most salacious details of what happened in London in the past but can be a hugely entertaining and original evening out. You even get a bit of exercise!

I found a great website called London Ghost Walk where you can book such a tour. The walks are given by historian and author Richard Jones and last for two hours. The tour will take you around haunted sites where Richard has had personal experience of ghostly goings on. He will recount his own tales as well as the experiences of physics and even scientists, many of which have been published in top selling books. You will visit London’s oldest hospital and ancient burial grounds. The evening takes place on Halloween night (October the 31st) so ghostly activity will be at its peak - who knows what you might encounter. Book here for tickets

So first comes apartment hunting then comes the decoration … How exciting! The great thing about living with a friend is that you get your own room and you get an ultimately sleek, stylish and sexy apartment.

Within Reason in sheffield stocks some original and antique style furniture as well as modern household accessories and utensils. There’s an amazing antique, white painted storage case that looks like an old pigeon hole or post box for a block of apartments that’s just under £200. There’s also a bird cage, kitchen utensils such as sugar, tea and coffee pots, chests of draws and dressing table units. To add to this there is jewellery, cushions, bags, umbrellas, children’s wear, bath wash and lots more. After you’ve decorated your home you could even buy some great gifts for friends and family too. So splurge Within Reason.

Within Reason is located at 144-146 Devonshire Street in Sheffield city centre. Contact the store on 0114 249 3346.

Crystal bar in Sheffield is definitely one of the classier bars in the city centre. With smart décor, a VIP room and an extensive drinks menu, Crystal is a popular choice for both locals and students. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings cater for students with a selection of drinks on offer and Fridays and Saturdays cater for anyone who’s anyone. Another student night is due to be established at Crystal on a Thursday night, so keep an eye out if you’re a student who loves an evening of fun.

Visit the Crystal Bar website for more information on the venue itself or simply turn up at 23-32 Carver Street in Sheffield city centre. Enjoy and dance the night away party people …