Santa Claus disaster as children to overlook assembly Father Christmas as scarcity sees grottos axed
No-Ho-Ho! Kids face missing out on meeting Father Christmas this year – as a Santa shortage sees grottos set to be scrapped.
Bosses are short of St Nicks as many regulars have retired since Covid or quit the role for other work. Hundreds of unfilled Santa and elf job adverts are listed across the country, just a week before some are meant to start work. The Harvester pub, at Pride Park, Derby, wrote on Facebook: “We’re still looking for Santa for our grotto. Please spread the word.”
Southampton’s city centre grotto wrote: “We’re looking for Santa’s helpers. Start date is November 18.” Festive light shows, garden centres, farms and country houses are all racing to recruit Father Christmas in time.
(Image: Getty Images)
A rush of short-staffed grottos have asked for Santas at the last minute from Great Grottos, Britain’s biggest supplier.
Matthew Wise, managing director of Great Grottos, running 48 grottos with 270 Santas and 512 elves at shopping and garden centres including Lakeside, Essex, and Leeds’ White Rose mall, said: “Some Santas from before Covid have retired or got new jobs. Rural areas find it harder to recruit.
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
“And the issue with elves is they need to be the right person for their important role.
“We’ve recruited enough staff, but grottos are phoning up saying they’re struggling to find a Santa. It happens a lot.
“Grottos advertise the job, find they can’t get a Santa, and sometimes call us a week before the grotto opens.”
According to the Royal Institute of British Architects, Santa’s Grotto first originated in 1879 as a “Christmas Fairyland”. It first originated in Lewis’s Department Store on Lime Street, in Liverpool city centre.
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