Christmas shopping 2018: Where to buy last-minute gifts at shopping centres near you
Still got your Christmas shopping to do? In need of those last few gifts?
You don't need to panic and cancel the festive season just yet - shopping centres in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Telford and beyond are spreading holiday cheer with late-night opening hours and Christmas activities.
Steve Burr, centre manager at New Square shopping centre in West Bromwich, said that last year the centre had 300,000 shoppers visit New Square in the week leading up to Christmas, with 60,000 visiting on the Saturday alone, and early indications show that this weekend will probably exceed that.
“The build-up to Christmas is always the busiest time for the centre," he added.
"Believe it or not, we start preparing for the festive season in January, to make sure we have everything in place to make shopping as enjoyable and stress-free as possible for everyone who visits us.
Scroll down to see when your nearest shopping centre is open
"Planning starts with looking at the data from the previous year, organising decorations and big seasonal attractions like our grotto, and then by summer we start to look at marketing and other festive events which need arranging well ahead of time.
"Closer to December we’re looking at staffing over the festive period and things like contingencies for extreme weather in case we get a white Christmas.”
Super Saturday
Shoppers are expected to spend £1.65 billion on Super Saturday - also known as Panic Saturday - this weekend as they hit the high street in preparation for Christmas Day.
Danielle Bozward, marketing manager at Bullring and Grand Central, said the city centre shops were likely to be full right up until Christmas Eve.
"People will continue to pick up the last-minute gifts they have forgotten about, or will be hitting the shops in a panic that their online order won't arrive in time for the big day," she said.
"We therefore anticipate the centre getting busier as the day goes on".
Rob Pickersgill, marketing manager at intu Merry Hill, said shopping in person remained popular despite the rise of online retail.
He said: “Christmas is always a busy time of year at intu Merry Hill as we welcome lots of visitors who are not only looking for perfect Christmas gifts but also to enjoy the magical festive experiences we all associate with this time of year," he commented.
"While online shopping can sometimes provide a convenient way of ticking off items from your Christmas list, it will never deliver the fun, festive atmosphere and traditions that bring families and friends together for a great day out."
The anticipated rush should provide a fillip after a disappointing previous weekend for retailers with gales, snow and freezing rain brought by Storm Deirdre blamed for lower shopper numbers.
Online sales are expected to peak the day before on ‘Frenzied Friday’ as 7.2 million shoppers spend £321 million on last-minute gifts.
The UK high street has been hit hard this year as several large companies entered administration including House of Fraser and Evans Cycles, which were both bought by Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley.
Names such as Toys R Us UK, Poundworld and electronic retailer Maplin also fell into administration, while fashion chain New Look, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams all announced store closures.
Check out the opening times for shopping centres across the Midlands and Shropshire over the festive season here:
Bullring and Grand Central, Birmingham
The Bullring and Grand Central will be open between 9am and 9pm on Saturday, and 11am until 5pm on Sunday.
On Christmas Eve the Bullring will be open from 10am to 5pm, and Grand Central will be open from 9am to 5pm.
While shopping for presents you can enjoy festive food at one of the centre's many restaurants and cafes and find treats for the whole family in over 100 stores.
You can also use the Grand Central PLUS app to take part in festive competitions, giveaways and more.
Frankfurter, hot glühwein and a wide variety of gifts are also available from the nearby German market which is open from 10am to 9pm until ending on Sunday
For more information, click here.
Mander Centre and Wulfrun Centre, Wolverhampton
There's lots of festive fun and shopping to enjoy this Christmas season in Wolverhampton
The Mander Centre is open between 9am and 7pm on Saturday, and 10.30am and 4.30pm on Sunday.
Meanwhile, The Wulfrun Centre is open between 9am and 5.30pm on Saturday, and 10.30am and 4pm on Sunday.
On Christmas Eve the Mander Centre will be open from 9am to 5pm, and the Wulfcrun Centre will be open from 9am to 5.30pm.
Free parking is available at the Mander Centre on Saturday from 4pm, and from 2pm at School Street and Market Car Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Shoppers can also take advantage of the Christmas market open from 10am until late up until it closes on Sunday.
Santa's Grotto will be open in the Lower Mall, Mander Centre, until Sunday where children can visit the man himself before receiving their own gift-wrapped present.
Tickets cost £4.50 per child per visit. The grotto is open between 10am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 6pm on Saturday. On Sundays, the grotto is open from 11am to 12.30pm, and 1.30pm to 4pm.
Meanwhile Signal 107 DJ Dicky Dodd will be in the Mander Centre Lower Level on Sunday, where he will be hosting a game called Run Run Rudolph for the chance to win a share of £200 in vouchers.
For more information, click here.
intu Merry Hill, Dudley
This Saturday shoppers at intu Merry Hill will be able to nab last-minute gifts between 9am and 11pm.
On Sunday, the Dudley shopping centre will be open between 9am and 5pm.
On Christmas Eve it will be open from 8am to 6pm.
And the centre's friendly woolly mammoth, Marmalade, will be stomping his way around the centre this festive season helping to keep the little ones entertained.
Meanwhile the centre is once again running its charity gift-wrapping service, where little elves will wrap all your festive shopping in exchange for a small donation.
The desk will be open from 12pm with all donations going to Fast Aid Black Country.
Merry Hill is also running a free Christmas experience, where reindeer Deer Darlington teaches visitors all about the magic that goes on on the rooftops every Christmas Eve.
Visitors can learn how to land on rooftops and all the secrets of preparing for the big flight on Christmas Eve, before sliding down the chimney and landing in the living room – just like Santa does.
The Christmas experience is a free activity for all shoppers, but donations are welcome with all money raised going to Cash for Kids.
The experience is available from 10am until 7pm on weekdays, 10am until 5pm on Saturdays, and 11am until 4pm on Sundays.
For more information, click here.
New Square, West Bromwich
New Square in West Bromwich is open from 9am to 8pm on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
On Christmas Eve it will be open between 8am and 5pm.
Santa Claus will be in his grotto from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
There’s a winter wonderland to explore inside the grotto, where children can meet Father Christmas and tell him what’s on their Christmas lists this year.
Grown-ups can take their own photos to capture the moment, or there’s the opportunity to purchase a professional framed photo of them meeting Santa.
Entry to the grotto costs £6 includes a special gift picked by Santa.
Photographs cost £3 with extra pictures costing £2 each.
For more information, click here.
Telford Shopping Centre
Telford Shopping Centre is open from 9am to 7pm on Saturday, and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.
On Christmas Eve the centre will be open from 9am to 6pm.
Santa's grotto will be open for little ones to come and meet Father Christmas and receive an early gift to open.
Bookings can be made in advance here, and the grotto is open from 9am to 8pm this Saturday, and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.
If wrapping gifts isn't your specialist subject, take your shopping to the charity gift station at Telford Shopping Centre and get the elves there to lend a helping hand.
Located in Sherwood Square opposite Debenhams, you can take your gifts there to be wrapped for a charity donation to Ironbridge Rotary Club.
On top of this you can also soak in the magic of Christmas with a visit to Telford's European Christmas Market.
You can get a bite to eat and peruse unique handcrafted gifts perfect for loved ones.
The range of stalls available change weekly, ensuring there is something new to discover.
For more information, click here.
Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centres, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury's two largest shopping centres, which host a collection of top high-street names, will have late-night opening hours this festive season.
The Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centre will be open from 9am to 7pm on Saturday, and between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Sunday for you to get those last minute presents.
On Christmas Eve the centres will be open between 9am and 5.30pm.
Santa can be visited in his festive grotto on the lower level of the Darwin Shopping Centre from 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday for £4 per child.
There will be a festive photographer on hand to capture the visit and provide a free framed photo.
The Disney Store opened in the Darwin Centre at the end of October - one of six new tenants that will start trading in the town’s shopping centres before Christmas.
National retailer Menkind have also returned to the Darwin Centre on the top level, Calendar Club has opened a Christmas shop, and Chikpe has also opened a store on the middle level.
For more information, click here.
