A last-minute u-turn from Wokingham council has allowed a local store owner to open the doors of her annual Christmas shop this season.

In a surprising turn of events, Georgia Hustler-Sutton, who is the owner of two local stores on Bush Walk received the news just one week before the beginning of the holiday period.

Having been asked to vacate the space in August for new tenants, both her and the community were confused and angry when the Old Wallis site sat empty despite attempts to contact the council about re-entry.

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Georgia said: “My customers have been asking daily why we couldn’t use the space for a Christmas shop.  The Christmas shop is such a focus for the town in the run up to Christmas and to many it simply made no sense.  I had pretty much given up all hope of being allowed to trade here again after several requests to the council, of which I receive no response.”

After a successful 7 week run of the shop last Christmas, the residents and community were expecting the store to re-open again for the festive period.

“All our customers loved the magical space we created, especially after the year we’d had due to lockdown and Covid restrictions.  They have been asking daily since the summer if we’d be having the Christmas Shop again this year.”

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The Christmas shop, which is an extension of Maison Rustic stocks everything from trees and wreaths to lights and garlands, in unique and unusual styles.

Georgia , who is a huge champion of the local high street said:

“I'm not sure what or who changed the council's mind, but I'm delighted about this. last minute u-turn. It was a mad rush to open as we only had a week’s notice and couldn’t move until after Wokingham’s Winter Carnival.

“In just 2 days my team worked like Santa’s elves to create the most magical Winter wonderland.  I’m over the moon and so are our wonderful customers.”