Newark Santa’s Grotto, raising money for YMCA Newark and Sherwood, off to a great start

Hundreds of children have had the opportunity to see Santa and raise money for good causes at the same time.

Newark Santa’s Grotto, held in the Buttermarket, officially opened on the first weekend of December, and this year is raising money for YMCA Newark and Sherwood.

The grotto is the brainchild of Emma Holden, who established it in 2016 with Rachel Wilson after finding that families were having to travel out of Newark to see Santa and have the full festive experience.

This year, the grotto is being run in partnership with Radio Newark and Newark Town Hall Weddings and Events, as well as having nine local businesses on board including Benoy and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Emma, aka Elf Bossy Boots, said: “It’s been going really well so far, we’ve seen more than 200 children and we’re now fully booked on the weekends.

“The children have been loving the grotto and we’ve had some lovely feedback.”

One such piece of feedback the grotto has had described the whole experience as “wonderful”, and “you do such an amazing job, and for wonderful charities that are worth their weight in gold”.

The grotto will be open every weekend until the week commencing December 16 when it will be open every day until December 23.

Tickets cost £12.50 per child, and every family will get a 10-minute chat with Santa, an age-appropriate gift, a digital photograph with Santa (or a printed copy is £5) and a few extra treats from the Elves.

Children also have the opportunity to enjoy Breakfast with Santa from 9.30am to 11am on Saturday, December 21, where guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast in Newark Town Hall with the elves, the chance to meet Santa, and receive a gift, and this is £17.95 per person.

This year, the grotto also received a facelift as Newark College’s Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery students sourced the materials, designed, and manufactured a new fence and Level 1 multi skills students painted the finished article.

Emma aka Elf Bossy Boots said: “The fence is the perfect finishing touch to this year's Grotto and the elves are over the moon with it. The quality of craftsmanship, the professionalism of the students and the aesthetic look of the finished result have far exceeded their expectations.”

Penny Taylor MBE, Head of Newark Campuses, added: “By creating the fencing for the Santa’s Grotto, we feel that this will be something that the community will value for years to come. We’re often bowled over by the reaction to our collective contributions to the town, especially when they have lasting value.

‘What creating this fence really represents is what the College is striving for; to be a place where students meet the needs of potential employers, calculating the amount of wood and materials needed, costing it, and then building it.”