Food lovers’ hotspot Exmouth Market bristled with Christmas cheer and festivities this week.

An event, held at the pedestrianised Finsbury street last Wednesday, saw the area’s boutiques, restaurants and bars come out to fill the air with music and the smell of yuletide treats. Lights twinkled in the gloom, there was a Santa’s Grotto, Christmas drag queens on the prowl and a church choir and a theatre company sang traditional Christmas carols.

Christian Mouysset, from the Hummus Bros restaurant, said: “The event was a huge success – it was great to see the street so busy and gave people a chance to see Exmouth Market as a place to go out in the evening.

“The Christmas party put us on the map and we hope to organise loads more in the future.”