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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
James Robinson

I visited the Greggs Festive Brunch in Newcastle to test out the Greggspresso Martinis and Sausage Roll Sours

When it comes to bottomless brunch, Geordie institution Greggs probably isn't the first name that comes to mind - but on the basis of what I experienced on Saturday, it should be.

The iconic baker promised "the tastiest and most exclusive brunch this Christmas " along with platters of pastries and sweet treats at what became one of the hottest tickets in town.

I was lucky enough to get on the guest list, but as I approached the venue on Dean Street in Newcastle, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Read more: Greggs brings its Festive Bake Brunch party to Newcastle - and it's a huge hit

In fact, when I first arrived and saw a tall woman sporting high heels and a sparkly Christmas dress, I worried I was slightly under-dressed. However, it quickly turned out that it was, in fact, Newcastle's own Drag Queen Samantha Stone - part of the entertainment on offer.

Samantha Stone entertains guests at Greggs Festive Brunch in Newcastle (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Immediately after walking into the door, cocktails were thrust into your hands, which kind of set the tone. From Greggspresso Martinis to Sausage Roll Sours (they tasted better than they sound) the drinks were flowing thick and fast.

Cocktails with Greggs-inspired names like Sausage Roll sours and Gregsspresso Martinis were on offer (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Samantha then brought the house down with a hilarious rendition of Mariah Carey's festive classic All I want for Christmas is You before the first, eagerly anticipated platters of Greggs' favourites arrived.

There were festive bakes and sausage rolls galore, along with tasty wedges and chicken goujons. For non-meat eaters, there were vegan versions on offer from the baker's highly praised range.

For a Greggs lover like me, it was something of a dream come true. My only issue with the festive bake is that it isn't available all year round - although realistically, it's probably a good thing for both my waistline and my bank balance.

Pulling the Greggs-branded crackers revealed festive hats and a gift card, with one lucky attendee taking home the "high roller" gift card worth a whopping £50.

Social media influencers Hunsnet kept the party going from the DJ booth with a mix of festive classics and pop anthems.

There were plenty of Greggs-themed decorations (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

The savoury course had barely been finished when it was whisked away, replaced by some delicious sweet treats including pink jammie doughnuts and mince pies.

The sugary hit was needed, as everyone got on their feet to sing and dance to Cher's hit Believe, competing to win one of two Greggs hoodies and a festive bake cushion.

Sadly, I didn't win any of the prizes, but it was impossible to put a damper on what had been a brilliant experience. Everyone left the venue with full bellies and huge smiles.

Everyone left with huge smiles on their faces (Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

For me, the burning question now is will Greggs make brunch a regular part of its repertoire? This year, just London, Manchester and Newcastle were lucky enough to host a festive brunch.

However, based on my experience, they could sell out an event anywhere and any time.

Perhaps its no surprise, coming from Newcastle, but Greggs really know how to throw an epic party.

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