Late-night shopping is back for 2020, with islanders being encouraged to shop local this Christmas and support Guernsey’s retailers.
It’s been a difficult year for retail, however Guernsey has bucked the trend with new shops opening up both pre and post-lockdown, and those owners are now looking forward to their first Christmas in St Peter Port.
Islanders are already in the festive spirit following the recent Christmas lights switch-on in town. It was a huge success, with Guernsey being fortunate enough to be one of the only places in the U.K and Europe to be able to host such an event.
The Guernsey Retail Group recently formed to help positively influence the issues and opportunities that the retail industry faces. The group aims to support, drive and be the voice of the local retail economy. This year there will be four late-night shopping dates, the first of which will be Thursday 26th November, giving people the opportunity to start their Christmas shopping early.
These evening shopping events will continue into December, the full list of dates are:
- Thursday 26th November
- Thursday 3rd December
- Thursday 10th December
- Thursday 17th December
Most shops will be staying open until 9.00pm, allowing islanders to fully embrace the Christmas spirit as they shop under the twinkling lights of the High Street. Shops will also be opening for the day on Sunday 20th December, giving shoppers the chance to do some last-minute shopping before the big day.
Every year islanders flock to the High Street in support of late-night shopping, but the #GuernseyTogether message is stronger than ever this year and the Guernsey Retail Group is delighted to be collaborating with the Guernsey Arts Commission and the Association of Guernsey Charities.
It’s hoped that more islanders than ever will descend on St Peter Port to make these the most successful late-night Shopping events to date. The island’s charity, hospitality, small business and retail sectors need people to support and shop locally.
2020 has been particularly hard on the third sector as charities haven’t been able to fundraise as they would have ordinarily. As always during late-night shopping, charity and Young Enterprise stalls will line the High Street, giving them the chance to raise money and awareness. There will also be a Christmas market in the Market Buildings area where local producers can sell their wares.
The Guernsey Arts Commission has arranged for a variety of musicians to play at every late-night shopping event, who will be dotted throughout town to help bring the festive cheer.
Russ Fossey, Head of Arts Development, comments: “We are delighted to be coordinating the busking activity, adding vibrancy throughout St Peter Port and encourage the public to acknowledge their appreciation and support local creative businesses and local artists this Christmas”.
Jonathan Creasey, Chairman of Guernsey Retail Group, says: “We’re so lucky that we’re in the position to be able to run late-night shopping again this year. They’re a favourite in the Guernsey calendar and help the island to get into the Christmas spirit.
“We’re fortunate that our Town Centre is attracting new retailers, and this year alone we’ve seen a number of new shops open, including; Wild Orchid, The Outlet, Trespass, X&Y Designer Showroom and Health Connections who will all be experiencing their first late-night shopping.
“We really hope that the #GuernseyTogether spirit that we’ve seen this year will continue into the festive season and that people shop local this Christmas and support our great Guernsey retailers. Retail not only plays an important role in our economy by creating jobs but is also part of many people’s day-to-day life creating healthy environments for social interaction which is perhaps more important than ever this year”.
Once again, islanders will be allowed to park in the port permit spaces opposite the White Rock cafe and at Sir Charles Frossard House on late-night shopping Thursdays and Saturdays during the festive season.
