Published: Friday, 27th November, 2009 9:00am

Shoppers flock to Christmas launch

by Alan Bunce

AN ABBA tribute band, celebrity visits, fireworks, a robot and three major lights switch-ons marked the official start of Christmas in Reading last Saturday.

Adventurer Ben Fogle turned up for the official opening of the new Clas Ohlson store in Broad Street while an Abba tribute band entertained in Broad Street, then Coronation Street's Katherine Kelly (who plays Becky McDonald) switched the lights on at the mall.

The new lights provided by the Business Improvement District (BID) were switched on at Broad Street before it was the turn for The Oracle where a firework display, a guest appearance by Titan the Robot and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis attracted hundreds of people to The Riverside.

Other shops joined in the fun and free samples were given away at some of the coffee shops and Shakeaway.

BID manager Guy Douglas said although he did not yet have figers footfall was 'huge'. One major Oracle store was reported to have had better trade than Boxing Day last year.

He said: "We had sent out a strong message about Christmas in Reading to come and see it and people did."

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article