A CHRISTMAS pop-up shop has opened inside a Winchester shopping centre.
The Brooks has welcomed Mr and Mrs Santa Claus to the upper floor, filling the former Tot City unit.
The seasonal store selling festive decorations and gifts is open every day until December 25.
The Brooks’ newest occupant, alongside its latest deals with retailers such as Sports Direct, means all the shops in the centre have been let out for the first time in decades. It was only fully let for around a year at the turn of the Millennium.
Partners Mandy Chalk and Graham Budd, known as Mr and Mrs Claus, started the business 15 years ago, originally opening in one of the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market huts before moving into empty shops in The Brooks around eight years ago to have more space.
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The Christmas-loving pair were thrilled to be welcomed back to the shopping centre under its new owners Yarrow Estates.
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After seven days of transforming the space, the store opened on Wednesday, November 1.
Mandy, 57, who lives with Graham and their two daughters in Hinton Ampner, said: “We’re really happy to be back again. Winchester is our stomping ground and we’ve built up a bit of a following here over the years. People who come to the Christmas market come to find us too.
“We’ve had quite a few people in already, it’s all the early people who love Christmas. We like the traditional items but also the quirky stuff too.”
Mandy, a retired Barclays worker, and Graham, a painter and decorator, started the business as they wanted to do something together. Their daughters, aged 23 and 18, also come and help at the weekend to give them a break.
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Graham, 70, said: “We haven’t really got anything else like this in Winchester. Lots of shops sell Christmas bits but not the whole thing like us. We’re very niche, we have lots of ceramic stuff too that you won’t find at garden centres.
“To see all the people come in with big smiles on their faces makes it all worth it. We really appreciate The Brooks for having us back.”
Simon Turpin, director and asset manager of Yarrow Estates, said: “The really significant thing about the Christmas shop being here is that the space if fully let out. It’s wonderful that for the first time in 30 years plus The Brooks is full.
“This shop is a quintessential part of Christmas in Winchester and we’re delighted to have them here. Everything is beautifully fitted and there is stuff for everyone.
“Winchester is a very Christmassy place and people come from all over to shop here.”
Lisa Evans, centre manager, said: “Yarrow Estates Limited is making huge steps to bring in new retailers to the Brooks this year and we are delighted to have the shop Mr and Mrs Santa Claus back at the centre after we missed them last year. The shop definitely brings a festive atmosphere as well as enhancing the Christmas products on offer by our retailers at the scheme."
Mr and Mrs Santa Claus is open 10am-5pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4.30pm on Sundays.
For more information go to facebook.com/MrandMrsSantaclaus.
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