The city of Coburg is located on the ltz river in Bavaria Germany and is one of the capital’s of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Twinned with the Isle of Wight, the connection goes back to Prince Albert who was the Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha only leaving to marry Queen Victoria in 1840. This year, HRH The Queen has ordered her Christmas tree from her great-great grandfather’s ancestral land and it now stands proud at Windsor Castle.

The IW German Twinning Association last week attended a popular festive market in Coburg, taking a selection of local produce with them, including items from Goddards, Island Ales, Pinks, The Isle of Wight Distillery, The Garlic Farm, Yates, Tipsy Wight and Isle of Wight Honey. The market place transforms itself into a little city of Christmas boutiques, all contained between the historic city hall and the old ducal chancellery. The Coburg Christmas market is among the most atmospheric in Franconia.

The stand was at the Christmas market from the 28th November – 4th December and proved very popular with the beer even selling out in just three days!