In a holiday feat that’s as sweet as it is grand, this gingerbread house stands as the largest on the island of Ireland, but sadly it’s a feast for the eyes only.
The aroma of sweets isn’t just in the air, it’s in the foundations of the giant creation at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast.
Made up of 1,100 individual gingerbread tiles baked freshly in the hotel’s kitchen, the ‘titanic’ house includes a wooden roof and chimney standing over two metres tall.
It features an assortment of over 3,000 sweets decorated across the construction, however the glue holding all the treats together means that visitors will have to resist taking a bite.
“From start to finish, it takes five full days, from the assembly of the walls to the attachment of the 3,000 jelly babies and candy canes,” explained deputy manager Matthew Poole.
“This idea evolved in different stages. It used to have no roof at one point. We start baking around October time and it takes 1,100 gingerbread tiles attached by hand with a team of five.”
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The hotel continues to hold the bragging rights for the largest gingerbread house on the island of Ireland — an accolade which Mr Poole says has yet to be contested.
Inside, the roof is peppered with lights to resemble a starry night as well as a fireplace and a chair for Santa to give out presents to all the boys and girls on his list.
Santa will get a list of names for all the kids he’s meeting, checking it twice, before handing out an assortment of presents and sweets.
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Mr Poole added: “We’ve been in communication with all our guests so that we can get all the names and ages of the children coming so Santa can go out shopping in advance and get all the presents.
The Christmas tradition for the gingerbread house started six years ago when the hotel’s general manager was inspired during a trip to America.
“This is six years in the making. It started with the general manager and his inspiration from his time in the States.
“He wanted to create something that is a real surprise and delight for the kids and adults.”
The newest additions to this year’s project includes the roof, a fence, a Christmas tree and the starlit ceiling inside.
“The gingerbread is the biggest house on the the island of Ireland, we haven’t been contested so we’re sticking with those bragging rights. Each year, it has evolved,” Mr Poole said.
Hotel deputy manager Matthew Poole with Santa
With the final touches added, the gingerbread house will feature a working train set snaking around the structure and a collection of presents inside.
Guests from far and wide can enjoy Christmas festivities and food throughout the month including a meet and greet from Santa.
As the Belfast Telegraph visited the house, Father Christmas popped out of his grotto to wish everyone a happy holiday this year.
“Happy Christmas everyone! I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone starting this Sunday. Ho-ho-ho.”