Festive period shopping centre opening times
SOME HAVE SANTA’S GROTTOS
NOW we are into December, Christmas is getting into full swing, which means many of us will be out shopping for presents and party food.
The good news is that stores and shopping centres are increasing opening hours at certain times.
There is also good news for the kids with some centres providing a Santa’s grotto.
As is tradition, Thursday throughout December will see shops open a couple of hours later, giving people a chance to grab something after work.
While the shopping centres are always open later for the leisure facilities or, in St Stephen’s case, the Tesco store is open 24 hours, the stores themselves tend to close at around 5.30pm.
But there are periods in the lead up to Christmas when they will be open longer.
Here are the shopping centres and the opening times for the stores this Christmas.
Stores in the shopping centre normally open at 9am and close between 5.30pm-6pm. Any dates not included means it will be normal opening times on those days.
St Stephen’s
■■Thursday, Dec 2: 9am-8pm ■■Thursday, Dec 9: 9am-8pm ■■Thursday, Dec 16: 9am-8pm ■■Friday, Dec 17: 9am-7pm ■■Saturday, Dec 18: 9am-7pm ■■Monday, Dec 20: 9am-7pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 21: 9am-7pm ■■Wednesday, Dec 22: 9am-7pm ■■Thursday, Dec 23: 9am-7pm ■■Christmas Eve: 9am-6pm ■■Christmas Day: closed ■■Boxing Day: 10am-4pm ■■Monday, Dec 27: 8am-7pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 28: 10am-5pm ■■New Year’s Day: 10am-4pm ■■Monday, Jan 3: 10am-4pm
Princes Quay
■■Thursday, Dec 2: 9am-7pm ■■Thursday, Dec 9: 9am-7pm ■■Thursday, Dec 16: 9am-7pm ■■Monday, Dec 20: 9am-5.30pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 21: 9am-5.30pm ■■Wednesday, Dec 22: 9am-7pm ■■Thursday, Dec 23: 9am-7pm ■■Christmas Eve: 9am-4.30pm ■■Christmas Day: closed
■■Boxing Day: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Monday, Dec 27: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 28: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Wednesday, Dec 29: 9am-5.30pm ■■Thursday, Dec 30: 9am-5.30pm ■■New Year’s Eve: 9am-4.30pm ■■New Year’s Day: closed (except food and leisure)
■■Sunday, Jan 2: 10.30am-4.30pm
Prospect Centre
■■Christmas Eve: 8am-5pm ■■Christmas Day: closed
■■Boxing Day: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Monday, Dec 27: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 28: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Wednesday, Dec 29: 8am-6pm ■■Thursday, Dec 30: 8am-6pm
■■New Year’s Eve: 8am-5pm
■■New Year’s Day: closed
■■Sunday, Jan 2: 10.30am-4.30pm ■■Monday, Jan 3: 10.30am-4.30pm
North Point
■■Christmas Eve – 8am-5pm ■■Christmas Day – closed
■■Boxing Day – closed
■■Monday, Dec 27 – 10am-4pm ■■Tuesday, Dec 28 – 10am-4pm
■■New Year’s Eve – 8am-5pm
■■New Year’s Day – closed (except food and leisure)
■■Monday, Jan 3 - 10am-4pm
Santa’s grottos
SANTA is back from furlough at Princes Quay who is on hand to meet the children alongside his magical elves located on the East Arcade.
Visitors will wander through the enchanted world of the Quayvaria Village spotting all the busy elves in their miniature workshops.
Children will receive a wrapped gift before having a seasonal photograph taken by one of Santa’s special helpers.
Admission costs £7.50 per child, adults are free and booking fees apply.
Souvenir photographs are available to purchase at the pay kiosk. To book visit, www.eventim.co.uk/artist/santas-grotto/#calendar-start=2021-11
Meanwhile, North Point in Bransholme also has a grotto which has been proving popular once more.
The great thing is the grotto is free and children will receive a gift when meeting him.
Children can meet him within the concourse of the centre where he is housed in a huge, spectacular bauble.
Grotto opening times vary in the run up to Christmas but generally open in the afternoons during the week and all day on Saturdays.