To be sad of the demise of Selfridges and Harrods xmas grottos...

[IamSlave]

I am sad that our capitol cities, two largest and most popular xmas grottos have let everyone down.

Selfridge don't bother with it now, and Harrods you need to spend loads of wonga in there to be in with a chance of getting a December booking.

Its a tier system so the more you spend the more time they give you to book, nov and dec weekends are already long gone.

I thought it was understood that families who do not use Harrods as their local store year round, go specially at xmas, to have that special air of being in an uber expensive place.

Its a public service!

Ok but you must have already had an rewaRDS card?
Ok I feel a little better, I have a rewards card now, but no money will be spent on it, but maybe I will get booking next year....

Yes, I got a rewards card the first year they made it a condition of booking.

I have never been tempted to spend anything, but I once ventured into the pet section and saw them charging £££ for what looked like a tabby cat. Apparently it was a British Shorthaired Something.

They seem price ordinary toys and clothes very competitively. It's only if you want your child driving a petrol driven 7ft giraffe while wearing peacock skin slippers that the prices go daft.

I love Harrods because of the Mr. Bean Christmas episode.

You do realise it's a shop?

Just wondering...

Its a public service!

No its not, its a private business and as such can do whatever the hell it likes! Last year I got a Saturday afternoon slot with no bother, never spent a penny there either.

Well, the great majority of children have never set foot in either of those shops, and still manage to have perfectly nice (provincial ) Christmases. I've never been to Harrods or Selfridges.

I guess if it's something you remember fondly from your own childhood then YANBU to feel miffed.

We just go up to the local garden centre grotto. Neither of mine are that interested in it really. Our own little pre-Christmas tradition is going up in the dark when they first put out their Christmas displays, the DCs are allowed to choose one ornament each, totally their choice no matter how tacky and I buy something yummy from the overpriced food section, then we come home and have hot chocolate.

What about Hamleys? Specialist toy emporium, must pull all the tops out for a big Xmas profit, surely.

Not exactly essential is it.,

No not essential but neither is xmas.

Not much is essential bar a roof, shelter and food.

Its a shame. Some people seem to have been able to book in advance though.....without having spent anything in the year.

Are you American ?

Its Capital not Capitol . Just saying .

Really? Just why?

I'm hesitating to point this out on a public forum, but if you actually read the T&Cs (at least last year, this was the case), Mini Harrods rewards members get the early access with nil spend. Plan ahead for next year.

Although I decided that Ely's in Kingston was better suited to 4yo DS as it's free to speak to Santa, they have a good toy department and he still finds Santa terrifying (although he's said a couple of times now that he thinks Santa isn't real, so maybe we'll never actually make it to Harrods!).

I've got tickets for the first week in December and I've never spent a penny in there either.

The rewards cards are free so I got that earlier in the year. I then got an email telling me my tier could now book.

YABU as Mini Reward club members were able to book ages ago. It costs nothing to join and any child under 10 can join. Harrods Santa isn't the best Santa's grotto but it is amazing value for money if you live in London. The £10 are then credited to your rewards card. The toy section is brilliant with some good deals. A trip to Santa's Grotto, free gift & chocolate from the man in red, and if you redeem your points that same day it costs nothing!

Better luck next time. Or try ringing them for cancellations.

I used to love Selfridge's as child, first they got rid of Uncle Holly and now it's Santa :(

Brilliant place to go and see father Christmas it's really exciting for small children, and very cheap.