Great news this week, as the UK becomes the first country to approve a vaccine to combat coronavirus. Locally, our NHS teams have been working hard to develop how we can roll it out across Sussex – expect to hear more on this in the coming days…
This Saturday is Small Business Saturday where we celebrate the phenomenal contribution these businesses make within our communities, towns and cities. Throughout the pandemic, so many of them have stepped up to offer new services such as deliveries, takeaways and ready meals for those in isolation. Up and down our area there are examples of this, from farm shops like Lodsworth Larder, Adsdean, and Durleighmarsh, and others like Midhurst Bakery, The Rising Sun, Potters in Selsey, Rotherhill Nurseries and so many more pubs, cafes, restaurants, butchers, bakers, and the rest – far too many to mention, but all deserve our thanks and support.
I know, like me, many of you will take the opportunity to head to the shops to do just that; support your local businesses this Saturday, and get prepared for Christmas which, as always, is approaching faster than expected. As you will have read in my column last week, it is not just our shops and pubs that are opening their doors again, but also our places of worship. People will be able to celebrate Christmas in Church or at the Cathedral as close to normal as possible this year, of course, there will still be a need to be distancing from other bubbles.
The City has also made a massive effort to keep up the festive cheer, with the beautiful lights back in the city and many of our shops again taking part in the Christmas Window Competition. To vote for your favourite around town simply post a picture of it with the hashtag #ChiBidXmas. There are tonnes of other activities to enjoy and deals to be had, just download the Loyal Free app – where you can find out all the goings-on in Chichester and the surrounding area – it has lists of deals, events, exciting trail walks and key attractions. Deals cover everything from cake and coffee, at Paradiso, to Christmas tipples at Hennings and even free parking in the council car parks.
There’s also a lot on there for the little ones too, including when you can meet Santa, at The Novium Museum, and how to take part in the Fairy Tale Trail.
All these festivities have been made possible thanks to the hard work of the Chichester BID team and all our fantastic small businesses, who despite an incredibly challenging year are still giving to the community and making our City as Christmassy this year as any other. So thank you for all of your hard work and I hope everyone who can, helps give their support by shopping locally this year.
