A little Christmas magic has slid neatly into place at Gloucester Quays, with businesses from the city given a sneak preview of the festive offering last night.

Its hugely successful annual Victorian Christmas market has set up shop for much of the rest of the month around the ever-popular waterfront retail, food and leisure destination.

And perhaps the jewel in its offer - for those of an active disposition at least - is the open air ice rink in Orchard Square, which is now open for business.

A soft-launch preview event took place at the venue last night with traders and businesses invited ahead of the expected hundreds of paying guests.

Owen Acland, the manager of the Peel-owned Gloucester Quays, said: "Our Christmas market will be with us for 11 days. We are bringing in more than 200 coaches arriving, over 150 stalls, we have the ice rink here until January 5, we have the carousel back, locally sourced produce, food, drink, Victorian characters, music, the Big Red Bus Bar is back.

"It will be fantastic. We are hoping for hundreds of people to come down and enjoy it. It is here till November 24."

The Quays itself has also welcomed some new businesses under its wing in recent weeks - with Hotel Chocolate and Salt Rock among them who join the likes of Hugo Boss, Barbour, Joules, Cath Kidson, Ted baker, North face, Nike and Adidas.

More names are expected in the near future, but Mr Acland was staying tight lipped about just who that might be.

Tickets for the ice rink start from £7.50 for children and £9.80 for adults with family passes available at £31.

Sessions start from 12.35pm to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9.50am until 9pm on Saturdays and 9.50am to 7pm on Sundays.