Webbs of Wychbold, near Droitwich is just off J5 of the M5. It’s a a bit of a complex containing things like a garden centre, pet supplies, a hobby craft, homewares, a cafe and a food hall amongst other things.
We had heard several good things about the Winter Wonderland there and decided that we’d try it for ourselves this year. It certainly didn’t disappoint. We decided rather than do several Christmas fairs and see Santa a load of times this year, that seeing him once at a quality grotto would be the best option.
The store gets kitted out with different Christmas bits you can buy and they definitely go the whole hog in decorating (but manage to keep it tasteful not tacky).
The grotto itself was out towards the garden centre, there was a little hut with winding picket fencing through the queue, with 15 minute time slots for entry. At our time slot we were invited into the Elf Workshop to make reindeer food (mixed seed… no glitter! Yes! Thank you! Someone who gets the nature implications!) to take home in a little organza bag. Once the children were finished, we were invited to the table opposite for them to colour in a wooden tree decoration.
Then it was through to the “wonderland” which was a series of scenes with moving actions and sparkly lights – a queue to santa with an entertaining distraction basically. Magical to the children, and happy for adults as the children aren’t moaning. The children were soon enough called in to see the big man himself, who said today they were on his nice list and so they had earned a visit and on that day he invited them to go to his toy warehouse to chose something (which was some racking filled with toys in the next room). The children chose their toys and on the way out got to see some deer. Job done. Nothing to cheesy or tacky and actually quite magical for the children.
