Ready your wallets! There are just a few weeks until Gravesend’s Borough Market Hall reopens its doors after an extensive refurbishment.

The market has been shut since June 2015 for a £1.8 million makeover, but Gravesham council has now confirmed that it will finally reopen with a classic Christmas market on Saturday, December 3.

Shoppers can look forward to spending their hard-earned cash across a range of up to 21 permanent stalls, 30 temporary ones, six temporary food stands and a cafe, with more details on the line-up expected in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year the council revealed that well over 50 businesses and local traders had expressed an interest in setting up a stall in the market, which has had a new roof, lights and decoration.

Cllr Samir Jassal, head of business development at the council, previously spoke of his excitement to see the project finished and described the market hall as “an iconic building within the borough”.

He added: “It’s really pleasing to see so much interest from businesses wanting to sell their products in the new hall.”

The project’s funding was granted by the government’s Coastal Communities Fund, which has been supporting redevelopment of historic sites across the country.

Gravesend Borough Market Hall has roots tracing back as far as 1268 when Henry III granted the Manor of Parrock permission to run a market every Saturday with an annual fair in June.

The December 3 Christmas market will form a central part of the council’s Christmas line-up, which begins with the lights switch-on on Friday, November 18.

Shakin’ Stevens’ popular tune, Merry Christmas Everyone, is the theme for this year’s programme, with the popular Christmas on the Hill event scheduled for Saturday, November 26.

Following on from last year’s success, the Windmill Memorial Gardens will once again be transformed by candlelight to create a magical winter garden.

Children and adults will be invited to help light the hundreds of candles to create the spectacle and take part in a lantern parade, before a finale of singing and fireworks.

The event gets underway at midday with an ice rink and children’s activities, followed by lantern-making workshops, candle lighting, the parade and fireworks.

On Saturday, December 10, Gravesend will host its Christmas Tree Festival with events at St George’s Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Blake Gallery.

Around 60 trees will be decorated and displayed, with prizes for the best decorated trees at each venue being presented by the Mayor, Cllr Greta Goatley.

Community Square will host a Nativity event that same day, from 2.30pm until 3.30pm. More details on the council’s full Christmas programme are expected in the coming weeks.