Thousands of visitors flock to Liverpool’s Christmas Markets annually, with the festivities running until Christmas Eve at St George’s Plateau. Since relocating from Church Street in 2016, the markets have flourished at their current location, with organisers Clarke Events promising this will be the “best year yet”.

As Reach’s Christopher Megrath entered through the gates at opening time, the sheer variety of options proved overwhelming. A delicious array of scents filled the air across St George’s Plateau, tempting visitors towards the numerous food stalls. In a rather impulsive decision prioritising appetite over judgement, the journey began at one of the largest, most eye-catching food trucks available – a choice that would prove regrettable shortly afterwards, reports Liverpool Echo.

Positioned towards the rear of the plateau, near St John’s Gardens, stands the festive pie truck. Four different fillings are on offer, complete with all the accompaniments, making it an ideal first destination for a festive food exploration.

The welcoming staff greeted customers with warmth and good humour, even joking about ordering confusion at the counter. What followed was an unexpectedly pleasant conversation – a delightful interaction not typically anticipated when purchasing a pie. Beef, ham and vegetable pies are all available, though the turkey option with all the trimmings, smothered in gravy, was Christopher’s chosen selection. Apple sauce and cranberry are also available for those seeking additional flavour.

After bidding goodbye to the vendors, Christopher found the least wet patch of ground to sit and tuck into his meal.

“Tossed into a carboard pot was my turkey pie, two pigs in blankets, a couple of carrots and Brussels sprouts, a dollop of mashed potato and stuffing, with just the right amount of gravy, totalling £13,” he wrote.

“The filling was mostly vegetables, consisting of cabbage, turnip and even more Brussels sprouts, with a few chunks of turkey. The crust was tougher than I’d have preferred, but the filling was delicious. It took around five minutes to see the bottom of the box and I made sure there wasn’t a drop of gravy left.

“I enjoyed the meal overall and soon realised having a makeshift on-the-go roast as my first market stop was a horrible idea. I spent another hour wandering the grounds, sampling light bites and sweet treats, but the festive pie knocked me out. I was joyfully full. Visit the truck at the end of your journey if you want to maintain a respectable level of fitness for the rest of the evening. I wanted to have a nap afterwards. Please make sure you try a little bit of everything because the variety on offer is fantastic.”

Do make sure to sample a bit of everything as the variety on offer is truly impressive.

The Liverpool Christmas Market is also set to tantalise taste buds with a vast array of international flavours. Regular favourites will include Yorkshire pudding wraps, bratwurst, noodles, salt and pepper chicken, halloumi, Greek gyros and souvlaki, roast pork baps, mac n cheese, burgers, siu mai, donuts, waffles, crepes, fudge, sweets, home bakes and hot crumble pudding.

For those with a sweet tooth, there’ll be an assortment of treats such as brownies, cookies, hot cookie dough, cotton candy, popcorn, toasted marshmallows, fresh baked macaroons, churro, candy and hot roasted chestnuts. A full list of traders and prices can be found here.