Christmas shop pop-ups again in east Leeds despite lockdown

A popular Christmas pop-up centre in east Leeds is opening again this year - despite the lockdown.
The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.
The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.

The glittering festive shop at Home Farm in Methley opens its doors this Saturday (November 21) - with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.

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The shop, which opened for the first time last year, is the brainchild of Jamie Savile, whose family have owned the Methley estate since the 15th century.

The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.
The festive shop at Home Farm in Methley will open its doors with the strictest of anti-Covid measures in place.
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Jamie said: “We are delighted to announce that we are opening as normal this year. Every single anti-Covid measure will be implemented across the whole Home Farm site, with

facemasks mandatory, sanitisers everywhere and social distancing clearly marked and monitored.

“Our popular cut-your-own site will be open as usual and there will be a click-and-collect scheme going live from Monday, November 23.”

We couldn’t have cancelled Christmas. Choosing a tree from Methley is a special tradition for many local families at Christmas time - and we didn’t want to disappoint. Our farm manager planted the first tree in 1996 and now the farm has 18,000 trees being grown at any one time, so there are plenty to choose from.”

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This year, Jamie believes, Christmas will be more important than ever as families across the country try to forget about the global pandemic which has blighted 2020 so badly.

He added: “This has been a stressful and unsettling year for everyone and I think many people are going to make Christmas as happy, joyous and colourful as they possibly can. We are here to help them do exactly that.

“Already, it has been widely reported that the sale of Christmas decorations has been swifter than ever - and the quintessential Christmas decoration is the Christmas tree. We are

preparing to be busy – but very safe. The safety of our customers, both old and new, is our primary concern.”

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Situated near Leeds, on the confluence of the Rivers Aire and Calder, Methley Estate is part of Mexborough Estates owned by the Savile family.

The estate was once home to Methley Hall, which was built in 1588. Having been requisitioned by the army during both the First and Second World Wars, the hall also became subject to significant mining subsidence and extensive dry rot and was sadly demolished in the late 1950s. Mexborough Estates grows Christmas trees in Hawnby, near Helmsley, as well as at Methley. The Hawnby trees are sold at Methley.

“In the past, people have said that they love coming to see us at Christmas because it is an authentic experience, as opposed to buying an anonymous tree in a

supermarket," said Jamie. "We believe our Christmas shop, housed in an historic old barn, adds to this authenticity and makes buying a Christmas tree here an enjoyable and memorable experience for all the family. This year that is more important than ever.”

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