In pictures: Whitehall Garden Centre's Whitchurch Christmas shop is open

Whitehall Garden Centre's Whitchurch Christmas shop is open. Along with that in Lacock, Bristol's version boasts hundreds of thousands of Christmas decorations and ornaments, as well as trees, lights and collectables - and that's before we've even mentioned the magical set up and trail of the Christmas shop itself.

The staff at the garden centre, which is famed for its magical Christmas department, begin setting up as soon as children go back to school from their summer holiday break. Both the Whitchurch and Lacock teams help build the sets and scenery, and place every single decoration on the shop floor.

And, despite it still being a couple of months until Christmas, lifestyle and living manager Adele Rodgers, who has worked at the store for more than a decade, says that customers already can't get enough of Christmas at the popular destination.

Adele says: "It's Christmas as soon as you walk in. Visitors will see that when they arrive.

"We also have a much bigger food hall this year, which is going down a storm this year with customers. They're loving it and are tucking into all of the Christmas food on offer.

"The Christmassy walkway is back again this year, with the huge Santa that makes for perfect photo opportunities. Once you get into the Christmas department, you instantly see our Lemax display - the little moving and light up Christmas villages - it's a lot bigger this year and that takes up quite a big area.

"It's always quite a big talking point of our display, and we get people that want to purchase items from it, or simply want to stand a while and watch it in all its glory. Another talking point this year, especially one that gets the kids talking, is the selection of massive Christmas dinosaurs.

"I think one of them is about 5ft tall - dinosaurs seem to be a big theme this year. We have lots of plush toys, which again the kids love, then we have the usual things like Yankee Candles, Christmas crackers, tabletop decor, lots of Christmassy blankets and pillows which have been really popular (everyone loves a blanket this year).

"Then we've got lights, trees, light-up decorations. One of our big displays last year was our elf walkway, and this year we have a winter walkway with a waterfall, a couple of ponds, woodland animals, snow - it all looks really pretty.

"Our singing reindeer are back and have been moved up to our main display this year. However much we don't like their singing for four months of the year, customers absolutely love them, and we have children just stood there staring at them for periods of time. They're definitely a hit.

"In terms of the shop, there are lots of gifts for foodies, plenty for anyone who likes a drink at Christmas, too, and we have our themes when it comes to decorations."

This year's themes include everything from specific colours - like white and silver - to a 'Baby's First' section, a 'nostalgia' or 90s decorations section, a 'London' section filled with King Charles baubles and other London iconography, a 'Ginger Bread' and 'Scandi' section, nutcrackers of every size and shape (including pink ballerina nutcrackers this year), the woodland section full of woodland animals, and the 'something different' section - described by Adele as being "quirky, bright, colourful, out there" and full of everything from burgers to diggers, dinosaurs to rockets, espresso martinis and, a popular trend for 2024, the balloon dog.

The Christmas shop officially opened on Saturday, September 27, and Adele says it's been "relatively busy", but will likely get busier after the garden centre's Halloween pumpkin carving event over half term. This is taking place from Thursday, October 24 until Thursday, October 31, between 10am-4pm, and tickets cost £4.99 per person.

Whitehall Garden Centre for sale

There has been some worry from customers and locals who wondered whether the Christmas shop would be opening this year, following news earlier in 2024 (July) that the Whitchurch branch had been listed for sale. Property agent Christie and Co described it as "one of the highest turnover garden centres to be brought to the open market in recent years."

With a turnover of approximately £3.5 million, the site sits on 7.65 acres of freehold land. Just four miles from central Bristol, Christie and Co says the property would be "an excellent addition to the portfolio for any existing garden centre operator."

It is still listed on Rightmove at time of writing.

While she couldn't comment on this matter, Adele did want to reassure customers that this year's Christmas shop is well worth a visit. She said: "We're still doing Whitehall Christmas the same way we always do. Stock is still coming in from our warehouse and we'll continue to stock up every week."

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