Counting down the days until Christmas in Mansfield and Ashfield

There may still be 111 days until Santa drops down the chimneys at the homes of good boys and girls, but that has not stopped some shops stocking their shelves with festive goods.

Cadbury’s, which has a shop at East Midlands Designer Outlet in South Normanton, is already selling advent calendars, while Argos, which has stores on Nottingham Road and Jubilee Way South, Mansfield, has launched its top 20 toys for Christmas, including the Poopsie Unicorn Surprise, Fingerlings Untamed T-Rex and a Nerf Laser.

For those after buying beauty products early, Boots, which has a store in Mansfield’s Four Seasons shopping centre and St Peter’s Retail Park, has started its now traditional three-for-two Christmas mix deal on gift sets.

Matalan on Station Road, Sutton has also started to Christmas decorations and nearby The Range has Christmas trees up and baubles for sale.

Pubs are also encouraging people to book their Christmas dinners in early – Mansfield’s most festively named pub, The Reindeer Inn, on Southwell Road West, has been thinking about the holidays for a while.

Sally Smith, pub manager, is looking forward to spending her first Christmas at the pub.

She said: “Apparently it got quite busy last year.

“We are advertising our Christmas booking to beat everyone else. We are only a small pub – we are having two to three bookings on Christmas Day, so I can get a Christmas too.

“People should book now to avoid disappointment.

“It also gives us plenty of time to sort out Christmas parties.

“Christmas is a totally different atmosphere – everyone has jolly spirts.”

Hungry House pub The Snipe, on Alfreton Road, Sutton, said they start to think of Christmas in summer.

Julie, of Kirkby, said: “It is just a case of being organised for us – we are open everyday including Christmas. We have had quite a few bookings for Christmas already.

“After the summer holidays, people start thinking about Christmas and we are usually fully booked by November. We always set up our Christmas display on August bank holiday.

“Christmas at The Snipe has a nice atmosphere.”

Toby Carvery Watermill, Coxmoor Road, Sutton, are offering a free bottle of prosecco with Christmas dinner bookings made before October 31.

Elsewhere, tickets are on sale – and selling well – for Mansfield Palace Theatre’s annual pantomime. This year, it is Snow White, starring Adam Moss and Only Fools and Horses star Sue Holderness.

And Mansfield District Council has confirmed its big Christmas lights switch-on is taking place on Sunday, November 18.