Ranked: Best and worst Fenwick Christmas Window displays over the last seven years
From Paddington to Charlie and the Choclate Factory - where does Clarice Bean 2022 appearence rank in comparison to recent years?
From Paddington bear to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Shaun the Sheep to the Snowman, there have been some absolutely class Fenwick Christmas Window displays in Newcastle over recent years.
The department store spends the whole year planning its display for the festive period with Geordies flocking to Northumberland Street in November and December to see the windows for themselves. It's now a mainstay in Tyneside Christmas traditions, as some early birds at this year's display told NewcastleWorld.
Everyone has an opinion on what they want to be in the window and whether the designs are festive enough for their taste. Over the years Fenwick has taken Christmas classics and told traditional stories whilst at other moments they've thrown a curveball and jazzed it up with a seasonal story.
Journeying through the last seven years of displays, we rank what we think is the most iconic to one that maybe didn't quite scratch that Christmas itch as well as in other years.
1. 7th place: Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf - 2022
The arrival of Clarice Bean in the Fenwick Christmas Window this year has received a mixed reaction. Many Geordies might now know who the character is, which may make it a tough sell compared to recent iconic figures. Clarice is adorable, nonetheless.
2. 6th place: We’re Walking in the Air - 2018
Often Fenwick takes classic tales and adds a festive flair, but in 2018 the concept was Christmassy from the get-go. The Snowman took over the windows and had the city thinking about a White Christmas. On window reveal day snow fell from the Fenwick window as a life-sized Snowman posed for pictures. Photo: North News & Pictures Ltd
3. 5th place: Shaun the Sheep - 2021
2021 was the year Fenwick began the big livestream reveal and unveiled Shaun the Sheep. Shaun might not be a Christmas classic but there was a whole lot of mischief in the windows and it went down a treat.
4. 4th place: The Magic of Beatrix Potter - 2016
In 2016 Fenwick’s windows were taken over by all sorts of Beatrix Potter characters.The windows showcased the author’s much-loved stories, bringing them to life for a new generation. On launch day, a life-sized Peter Rabbit was in attendance as queues snaked along Northumberland Street. Photo: North News & Pictures Ltd