Santa’s costly grottos are being put on ice

Struggling firms cut attractions amid soaring bills

SANTA Claus has become the latest victim of the cost of living squeeze – with companies axing grottos to make ends meet.

It has been three years since some children have seen Father Christmas, with most in-person meetings put on hold during the pandemic.

However, soaring energy prices, staff costs and supplier bills are proving too much for some firms to bear.

It comes as households across the country prepare their budgets for a cashstrapped Christmas. And business owners who pass on extra costs to their customers risk a torrent of abuse from furious families.

Trevena Cross, a garden centre in Hel

‘A sacrifice we have to make’

ston, Cornwall, put its grotto on ice after calculating it would have cost £20,000.

The 46-year-old business – which previously charged £7.50 for entrance to its grottos – had already sustained energy bill and stock price hikes, and managers decided the budget could not stretch to cover a grotto.

Instead, Father Christmas will pose for free photographs in-store.

Trevena Cross marketing manager Lucy Wickes said: ‘ There are so many additional costs that come out of the business to fund the grotto and this year these costs just aren’t manageable. It is with a heavy heart that we can’t bring the joy of the grotto to our older and younger visitors this year, but it is a sacrifice we unfortunately have to make.’

Another grotto was cancelled in Blackpool last month – with the company’s Facebook page citing the cost of renting a venue for December as ‘too much’.

Other retailers and businesses have increased their grotto entry prices to cover cost increases. But when Jenny Duffin confirmed a 20 per cent increase to her family farm’s grotto fee, she was inundated with abusive messages from cash-strapped families.

She published a breakdown of costs to show Stonehurst Farm would make just £1.35 in profit out of every £21.50 child entry fee. Mrs Duffin, who co-owns the Leicestershire farm, said: ‘We are a small family business and we are not greedy. The sad fact is this year with inflation and the cost of everything going up, some people won’t be able to afford to see Santa.’ The Welsh town of Carmarthenshire used to welcome 6,000 visitors to the opening weekend of its Winter Wonderland, but it has been cancelled this year.

Several local authorities have also scrapped their annual Christmas lights to save money.