GALLERY: Bents unveils its 'Christmas Experience' 2022

You can read our full round-up of the official opening here, or watch our full live stream of the opening below - but we wanted to share our favourite festive photos from the event.

I was there in person conducting our live stream, and I was joined by our photographer Mike Boden, who took these wonderfully festive photographs from inside the 'Christmas Experience.'

Enjoy!

Fat Cat Brass Band officially opened the event, with renditions of festive favourite Christmas songs (Image: Newsquest)

The 'Christmas Experience' 2022 features the return of the Christmas tree forest.

The centre is chocked full of Christmas trees (Image: Mike Boden)

We were on 'Santa-watch' during our live stream, and the centre was packed to the rafters with mini Father Christmas figurines.

There were hundreds of Santa figurines attending the opening (Image: Newsquest)

Guests are greeted by the central theme of 'Candy Cane Lane' in this year's festive section, with ornaments and decorations based on seasonal sweet treats.

Bents say that 'Candy Cane Lane' is the star of the show this year (Image: Newsquest)

There were nutcrackers aplenty standing watch over the 'Christmas Experience.'

Some nutcrackers were nearly five feet tall (Image: Newsquest)

Managing director Matthew Bent decided to try his hand on the drums, too.

Matthew Bent opened the event with help from the Fat Cat Brass Band (Image: Newsquest)

You can visit Bents Garden and Home every day from 8:30am - except Sundays, when it opens at 10:30am.