LEADIN:

Christmas is coming and Britons are indulging in Christmas food and drink, despite fears about Brexit.

At the Christmas Eat and Drink Festival in London, traditional fare and festive tipples are drawing the crowds, in the face of rising costs.

STORYLINE:

From giant-sized gingerbread houses, to cakes shaped like the Nutcracker and Grinch... there are plenty of sweet treats to tempt you this Christmas.

Alongside the fruitcake and marzipan, there's also a sprinkling of humour, and plenty of luxurious extras.

But this year London's 'Eat and Drink Festival' has the shadow of Brexit looming over it.

If Britain leaves the European Union without any agreement, many businesses and most economists view that as a worst-case scenario for the British economy.

It would mean a return of tariffs on trade between Britain and the EU as well as border checks on goods.

That could delay shipments of everything from food and fuel to clothing and cars. Some companies have been stockpiling to prepare for such a possibility.

Justin Levitt, Organiser of The Ideal Home and Christmas Eat and Drink Show says smaller food producers are unlikely to be overly impacted by Brexit.

"I think it depends who you are, so if you're a local producer or more of an artisan food maker, and you're producing food locally like many of our exhibitors are, then it's less of a concern. For some of the bigger brands that maybe are importing food from overseas, or drinks from overseas, yes it is a factor for some of them and we've certainly witnessed a bit of that. But a lot of our food producers are local, and it's craft food and craft drink, and some of that produced locally is less affected by Brexit."

Celebrity chefs play to the crowds who are eager to learn a tip or two for Christmas.  

TV chef Rosemary Shrager says despite a looming Brexit, people will still be celebrating the festive season.

"You know the British are funny people. We like celebrations. I think people will think about it. Companies are certainly thinking about it now. Everybody is thinking about it. But, in a way, people want to enjoy themselves, so I still think Christmas will be expensive for people. I don't think they'll be thinking we can't spend it because we don't know what's going to happen, because they're hoping everything's going to be alright. We are optimistic people. We are born with optimism. That's what it's all about."

Cocktails are on the festive menu, with mixologists adding ingredients like honey, fruit and flowers to a range of drinks.

For those who prefer soft drinks there are delicious non-alcoholic mocktails - finished with a bio-degradable paper straw.

Mike Yudt, a mixologist at Honest Folk Bars, says he's looking to the past for inspiration.

"You've got the classic festive drinks. So obviously eggnogs, mulled wine, things like that. But we're also trying to bring back some of the 80's drinks, like a Snowball as well, so we can have a bit of fun with that as well, as well as looking at healthy-living cocktails. We're doing a lot of cocktails with Vermouth, a lot of cocktails with liqueurs, wines, just to focus in on the healthy-living, active lifestyle, where alcohol doesn't have to be bad for you. Alcohol can be good for you."

There's a buzz around the bars here, with a range of festive flavours to tempt the taste buds of visitors who have come to sample what's on offer.

Visitor Louisa Swanell says the experience is making her excited for Christmas.

"With the flavoured alcohol, it's a lot of Christmas flavours, like the nut and the cinnamon flavours, and the mulled wine flavours, things like that, that are really getting me in the mood for Christmas," she says.

Organic food and drink is on the table too. Gin-lovers can press their own juniper berries - by foot - using a pair of pink Wellington boots to make their own pink gin.

For those who would rather watch, there's plenty of traditional cooking on display. It's time to eat, drink, be merry and prepare for the Christmas season ahead.

London - November 21, 2018

1. Various of large gingerbread house made from real gingerbread

2. Various of Christmas cakes

3. Zoom into venue, Kensington, Olympia, London

4. Various of women drinking refreshments

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Justin Levitt, Organiser, The Ideal Home and Christmas Eat and Drink Show:

"I think it depends who you are, so if you're a local producer or more of an artisan food maker, and you're producing food locally like many of our exhibitors are, then it's less of a concern. For some of the bigger brands that maybe are importing food from overseas, or drinks from overseas, yes it is a factor for some of them and we've certainly witnessed a bit of that. But a lot of our food producers are local, and it's craft food and craft drink, and some of that produced locally is less affected by Brexit."

6. Set up of chef Rosemary Shrager on stage

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rosemary Shrager, chef:

"You know the British are funny people. We like celebrations. I think people will think about it. Companies are certainly thinking about it now. Everybody is thinking about it. But, in a way, people want to enjoy themselves, so I still think Christmas will be expensive for people. I don't think they'll be thinking we can't spend it because we don't know what's going to happen, because they're hoping everything's going to be alright. We are optimistic people. We are born with optimism. That's what it's all about."

8. Various of mixologist making a non-alcoholic cocktail

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Yudt, mixologist, Honest Folk Bars:

"You've got the classic festive drinks. So obviously eggnogs, mulled wine, things like that. But we're also trying to bring back some of the old 80's drinks, like a Snowball as well, so we can have a bit of fun with that, as well as looking at healthy-living cocktails. We're doing a lot of cocktails with Vermouth, a lot of cocktails with liqueurs, wines, just to focus in on the healthy-living, active lifestyle, where alcohol doesn't have to be bad for you. Alcohol can be good for you."

10. Various of cocktail bar

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Louisa Swanell, visitor:

"With the flavoured alcohol, it's a lot of Christmas flavours, like the nut and the cinnamon flavours, and the mulled wine flavours, things like that, that are really getting me in the mood for Christmas."

12. Various of juniper berries being pressed by foot

13. Various of cooking demonstrations

14. Close of raw turkey