Castle cancels Christmas because of credit crunch

9:29am Wednesday 19th November 2008

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CHRISTMAS has been cancelled at Winchcombe’s Sudeley Castle because of the credit crunch.

Sudeley has cancelled the traditional Christmas event it was to have held on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.

What promised to be Gloucestershire’s biggest Yuletide event was to have kicked off the festive season and would have focused on entertaining children.

Set in the castle’s magical surroundings, the event would have boasted Santa in his grotto where his elves would have handed children gifts from their workshop.

There would also have been a Punch and Judy Show, face painting, storytelling and more festive fun.

The castle will be swathed in greenery from the estate and twinkling with fairy lights to create an atmospheric backdrop to the family fun weekend.

Splat Cooking Parties would have been held in the Pavilion, where there would have been delicious gingerbead houses and biscuits for children to decorate.

Sudeley’s gardens would also have been open for people to enjoy a stroll in the crisp winter air.

Jennie Rainsford, Sudeley’s spokeswoman, confirmed it was cancelled because of the current economic climate.

She said: “We decided, quite a while ago, to not go ahead with it because people would be under a lot of pressure to find money at Christmas.”