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Army HIVE Christmas and New Year Closures

The majority of Army HIVEs will be closed after duties on Fri 19 Dec 25 and will reopen on Mon 5 Jan 26. There may be localised variations to these dates for individual HIVEs.

Army HIVE HQ is also closed during the festive fortnight, so any enquiries submitted via the ‘If you need further information’ MS Forms function on our UK, Cyprus or Overseas blogs will be answered when we return in the New Year.

We will periodically cover private messages on our Army HIVE Facebook platform (and X/Instagram where possible) whilst we are closed. However, this will not be 24/7 and should not be relied upon for anything that requires an urgent response.

To support our customers with more immediate requirements however, the Army HIVE HQ email will provide a comprehensive out of office autoreply, detailing points of contact that are either 24/7, emergency providers, or open over the festive leave fortnight. To receive this autoreply, please email:
RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Individual HIVEs will also provide localised contact details for Christmas and New Year cover wherever possible in their automated replies. Therefore, if you email your closest HIVE, which you can find on HIVE’s page on the Army website, their autoreply may be of additional assistance.

Army HIVE wishes all of its Service community customers, and our internal and external stakeholders, a very happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to continuing our support and engagement in 2026.


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November 12, 2025

Defence Vegan & Vegetarian Network


Find out more about the Defence Vegan/Vegetarian Network


Serving Personnel can now register their status as Vegan or Vegetarian on JPA 

Chester: Things to do at Christmas 2025 in Chester

There’s always fabulously festive things to do in Chester at Christmas

Watch this space for the growing list of wonderful things to do this Christmas season in Chester.

Click Here to find out more.

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

Chester: Christmas Market from 19th - 22nd December

Chester Christmas Market
19th Nov 2025 - 22nd Dec 2025

Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
A magical Christmas all wrapped up! Chester Christmas Market will be back in the heart of Chester this year. A handmade, historical, magical experience awaits you with 80 traders situated in the square around the town hall. Discover unique, locally made produce, handmade crafts, jewellery, accessories, stocking fillers and plenty more festive finds!
To find out more CLICK HERE

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

St Athan: Free Family Play Session on Thursdays in Term Time at The Gathering Place, St Athan

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Wiltshire: Family Hub e-newsletter - issue 9

 

Please click here to read this e-newsletter online

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

November 11, 2025

Colerne: Sleeping Beauty family panto on camp - Sun 23 Nov

 

Sleeping Beauty is coming to Colerne camp next Sunday 23rd November!

£5 per family and you can pay on the day via cash or card.

The BFF team will be selling souvenirs again this year, however Welfare won't be selling snacks or drinks - you are welcome to bring your own though.

Booking is essential so Welfare know numbers - please 
click here to book!

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

Hereford: Herefordshire Libraries - Under Fives



 

Children are welcome to join the library from birth and enjoy the great choice of board and picture books in our libraries. There are plenty of spaces to explore, free activities to enjoy and stories to share. Regularly sharing books, stories and rhymes can have a big impact on their development and helps to build a baby's early language skills whilst encouraging a lifelong love of reading.

10 things you will find for under-fives in our children's librariesBoard books: sturdy books for little hands!

Picture books: beautifully illustrated stories to share including fairy tales and bedtime stories
Books for learning new nursery rhymes and songs
Early learning: books about colours, shapes, animals, to help your child understand the world around them.

Hereford: Garden Waste Collection Service



Subscribe to our new garden waste service

You cut. We collect. Nature composts.

Imagine more time to enjoy your garden - not just work in it. With our new fortnightly garden waste collection service, starting in March 2026, you can spend less time transporting waste and more time relaxing in your outdoor space.

Our year-round service (excluding just two weeks at Christmas) will collect your garden waste directly from your property and deliver it for composting at a local facility.

Subscriptions will open on 22 October 2025, so sign up soon to ensure you're ready for collections to start on 30 March 2026.

If you sign up before 9am on 1 December 2025 you will be entered into a prize draw where 10 winners will be selected at random to win a subscription for a year. For further information see the prize draw terms and conditions.

Sign up to the garden waste collection service


Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Wiltshire: Free fun cooking courses for Wiltshire & Swindon residents

 

Please click here to find out more and to sign up

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Manchester: Christmas Markets - 7th November to 22nd December 2025



Manchester's Christmas Markets 2025

Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets will once again transform the city centre into a festive wonderland, from Friday 7 November to Monday 22 December 2025.

This year's Christmas Markets will be bigger and better than ever. There will be over 200 stalls across ten sites, including a reopened section of Albert Square. With unique activities at every site, you’ll find something for the whole family this Christmas.

Albert Square will host ‘A Taste of Christmas’: a festive ‘mini market’ selling food, drinks and crafts. The square will be home to a huge Ferris wheel, giving breathtaking views of Manchester’s Town Hall.

Get wrapped up in the magical atmosphere as you browse local and international crafts. Enjoy all your favourite foods, from swing grills to Dutch pancakes, and visit bars serving hot drinks in our iconic mugs.

With old favourites and exciting new additions, it’ll be a Christmas to remember.

Festive cheer will spill into: 
Albert Square
Piccadilly Gardens
Market Street
Cathedral Gardens
St Ann's Square
Exchange Street
New Cathedral Street
King Street
The Corn Exchange

For more Information, timings and parking CLICK HERE

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE