Santa Chronicles

I Am Santa is a genuine real-beard Santa performer — natural white beard, white hair and handlebar moustache, no fake beards, no wigs, no nylon. Children notice the difference, and so do parents.

I bring a fully costumed, professional Santa appearance to corporate events, private parties, school visits, restaurant and hotel functions, mall appearances and everything in between — including flexible formats such as meet-and-greet, walkabout, or seated grotto-style visits.

Based in North Derbyshire, I typically travel up to an hour from base, and further afield for longer bookings or corporate events. I hold a current DBS certificate and full public liability insurance, giving you complete peace of mind.

Minimum booking: 3 hours.

My journey to becoming a professional Santa started almost by accident. I saw an advert for a last-minute Santa and, being newly retired, thought I might enjoy giving it a go. It was only a one-day booking, but seeing the children's reactions was something else — genuine wonder and delight that I hadn't expected to feel part of.

There was just one problem: I was handed a horrible nylon beard that covered my mouth completely. I decided there and then that if I was going to carry on doing this, I'd never wear one again. I already had white hair, so I made a commitment — I'd grow a real beard each year for Christmas, and do this properly.

That decision is the whole foundation of I Am Santa today. Children notice the difference between a real beard and a fake one, and so do parents — the reactions are warmer, the trust is instant, and the magic feels genuine because it is. After 25 years in running my own marketing agency, I bring a professional, reliable service alongside that authenticity — I understand what it means to deliver on a promise, and I bring that same care to every booking.

Now in my third season as a professional Santa, what inspires me most is simple: proving that one bad nylon beard turned into something I genuinely love doing

Now in my third season as a professional Santa, I've built a reputation for reliability and genuine warmth that keeps clients coming back — every client who has booked me has invited me back, which I consider the real measure of a good Santa.

Highlights so far include:

A confirmed Dinner with Santa engagement at an award-winning family attraction for Christmas 2026 A December weekday residency at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet East Midlands — now in my second year there Representation by Nemesis Talent for professional performance work Appointment as UK Representative for the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas (IBRBS), recognising my commitment to authentic, professional Santa performance

My background — 25 years in enterprise telecoms and 15 years running my own marketing agency — means I bring a level of professionalism and reliability to every booking that clients notice and trust. Combined with my genuine real beard and a growing calendar of repeat clients, I'm building I Am Santa into a name that venues and families recommend year after year

I work with a wide range of clients across the North West and East Midlands, including:

Corporate clients hosting Christmas parties, client events and staff celebrations Hotels and restaurants running festive dining experiences, such as Dinner with Santa events Schools and nurseries wanting a memorable, authentic grotto or classroom visit Shopping centres and malls looking for an extended, high-footfall Santa appearance Families booking home visits and private parties for a personal, Santa experience

Whether it's an family gathering or a large-scale corporate event, I tailor the format — meet-and-greet, walkabout, or seated visits — to suit the venue and audience.

UK Representative, International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas (IBRBS) — the world's largest non-profit organisation for professional Christmas performers, including Santas, Mrs. Clauses and other holiday characters Current DBS certificate Full public liability insurance Represented by Nemesis Talent for professional performance and acting bookings