A Shrewsbury-based leisure business is enjoying a bumper festive season, with new attractions and activities in the run-up to Christmas attracting a record number of visitors.

Santa and his elves are having a very busy time at Salop Leisure’s Emstrey headquarters and its successful Love2Stay resort as extra investment in The Salop Christmas Adventure is paying off.

In addition to welcoming more than 500 children to his grotto at Salop Leisure, the jolly man in red is hosting Tea with Santa every day of the week during December up to Christmas.

The activities kicked off with a record 10,000 visitors to the Shropshire Handmade and Creative Christmas Gift Fair at the end of November. Then, nearly 300 adults and children took part in the Salop Santa Dash and Elf Dash on December 1 to raise money for Shrewsbury Town in the Community. 

Shrewsbury’s largest outdoor festive synthetic skating rink has seen more than 700 skaters enjoying the attraction to date. Located at the Love2Stay resort, the 96 square metre rink, which can accommodate up to 20 skaters at one time, is open every day until December 23 with skaters charged £8.50 each for 45 minutes.

This year, parents are able to book their child’s visit to Santa’s Grotto online at www.salopchristmas.co.uk to avoid disappointment. A charge of £9 per child will be made to visit Santa, which includes a gift and a souvenir photograph.

In addition to weekends, the grotto will be open today (Thursday) and Friday this week from 3pm to 5pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week from 2pm to 5pm, 10am to 5pm on December 23 and 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve.

Children wishing to have tea with Santa at Love2Stay must pre-book online. Tea is served at 4pm during the week and at 11am, 2pm and 4pm at the weekends for a cost of £12 per child and £5 per adult. 

Freshly cut and potted trees Christmas tree sales, in a range of sizes, are also booming at Love Plants, Salop Leisure’s specialist plants centre. Six hundred trees have been sold to date with prices starting at £22 for varieties including Nordman Fir, Fraser Fir, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce and Noble Fir.

To add to the festive spirit, Shrewsbury Salvation Army Band will be entertaining visitors by playing Christmas carols this Friday.

“We are delighted with the response to The Salop Christmas Adventure, which is helping to make the festive season magical for our customers who have young families,” said Ed Glover, Salop Leisure’s marketing manager. 

“In addition to celebrating Christmas in Shrewsbury, our exciting programme of activities aims to raise public awareness of all the services we offer at Salop Leisure and Love2Stay. The feedback has been very positive.”

For full details, visit www.salopchristmas.co.uk