For the vast majority of visitors when travelling to Germany over the festive period, they will be heading straight for one of its traditional Christmas markets, like Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt or Dresden Striezelmarkt, boasting cosy stalls selling local delights, traditional and seasonal foods, such as Bratwurst sausages and Reibekuchen (potato fritters) or spicy mulled wine (Glühwein). But what if there was a German market that made Brits feel like they were walking through a home away from home?

Well, tucked away in rural Germany, in the Neuwied district of Rhineland-Palatinate, lies the picturesque municipality of Vettelschoß, where one inn owner has been running for the past few years a Christmas market that brings the British Christmas to life. Gary Blackburn, owner of “The Little Britain Inn“, will run his British Christmas market for its fourth year in 2025, with a vast variety of British-themed foods, drinks and gifts. “I bought the hotel and restaurant nearly five years ago during the COVID-19 times to park my Tank and Routemaster buses and vintage cars,” Mr Blackburn told The Express. “The Germans really like England and the English [say] they feel closer to us than any other part of Europe.”

During the market’s opening hours – every weekend during Advent with free admission – visitors will be able to enjoy fish and chips, scones, pies and pasties, as well as British drinks, all served in the quaint atmosphere in and around The Little Britain Inn.

Numerous stalls will also be selling handcrafted goods and British-themed gifts.

There will also be live music every weekend, with a highlight being performances by Elvis impersonator, Jonny Winters.

“Guests started asking for English breakfast, then fish and chips,” Mr Blackburn added. “Now, in the new Paddington’s tea room, afternoon teas are going crazy.

“We sell Guinness on draft and nearly 40 ciders,” he added.

The British Christmas Market in Vettelschoß will be open every weekend during Advent from November 21. On Fridays it will run from 4 to 10pm local time, on Saturdays from 1 to 10pm and on Sundays from 12 to 8pm. Admission is free.

Each of The Little Britain Inn’s rooms has a British theme, including the Balmoral Castle Penthouse, the Sherlock Holmes Room, the Cornish Room and the Agatha Christie Room. The inn’s restaurant offers diners the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Robin Hood, where they can enjoy a traditional Full English Breakfast. You can also grab a pint of Guinness or a sip of whisky at their Peaky Blinders Bar.

Outside, one of Mr Blackburn’s double-decker buses, or the “Queen’s Beergarden,” can be hired for special events, including birthdays, weddings, or afternoon tea, accommodating up to 20 people for the former and up to 50 people for the latter.

The Little Britain Inn can be found opposite the Kasbachtalbahn train station at the address: Bahnhofstraße 12-14
53560 Vettelschoß. The hotel is an ideal starting point for numerous excursions in the region, from the Middle Rhine Valley, Moselle, Ahr Valley, Westerwald, Siebengebirge, to Bonn and Cologne – both of which host their own popular Christmas markets for those looking to hit a few while abroad.