Epping Christmas Market:

Saturday 3rd December

The annual popular outdoor Epping Christmas Market is being planned to take place Saturday 3rd December from 10am to 4pm this year. There will be a wide selection of festive themed merchandise, so an ideal time to do some Christmas shopping. There will be carol singing by our local school children, local choirs, singers and musicians, a range of food and drinks and more. We have heard that Santa will be joining us in the grotto at Epping Fire Station and there will be an Elf dropping by on the High Street. Santa’s reindeers will also be making an appearance in the Market Garden terrace community garden beside Marks & Spencer. Also that weekend, there will be a wonderful array of Christmas trees in St John’s Church as part of their festival. Epping Town Council will again be lighting up the trees on the High Street in time for the festive season including the central 25ft Christmas tree on the ‘piazza’.

On the day, Epping’s Town Mayor will be presenting the Audrey Rose Cup to the winner of the business who has the most Christmassy shop front.

As the development of the multi-storey car park by Qualis continues this year, there will be very limited car parking in the town. Please consider leaving your car at home or using public transport if possible.

Townperson of the Year 2022

We are now seeking nominations for our Townsperson of the Year 2022. You can nominate anybody, as long as they live in Epping and they have made a real difference to the community life of the town. Nominations should be submitted before 31st January 2023.

For a nomination form, please call: 01992 579444 or e-mail: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

New travel agents opens in Epping High Street

A new travel agents has opened in Epping High Street; the fourth travel business to operate from the same premises in the last 30 years.

Epping Travel and Cruises was officially opened by Epping Town Mayor Councillor Barbara Scruton on 6th August at 81 High Street, next to Tesco on the corner of Crows Road.

Managing director Ian Gilder said: “We are the fourth travel agent in this shop, back in the 90s it was Co-op Travelcare which merged with Thomas Cook in 2007. This continued to trade until the sad demise of Thomas Cook in September 2019. Hays Travel then acquired the rights to the old Thomas Cook shop portfolio and opened the shop in January 2020, but this was short-lived as the store then closed down again in March 2020.”

Mr Gilder added: “I became aware of the shop in November 2020 as Hays Travel sent out a list of shops they were closing to their Hays Independence Group members, of which I am a member and who provides my ATOL bonding. I was already looking to open a shop in Epping as I believe my offering as a cruise specialist, Jet2Holidays Booking Centre and also my specialty in being able to tailor-make a holiday to a customer’s dreams would give me a competitive advantage over the competition. While we were fitting the shop we had many people popping their heads in and saying they cannot wait for us to open, so they could come in and see us. The reception we have received from the people in Epping has been overwhelming.”

For more details telephone: 0800 954 1536.