Small Business Saturday is this Saturday (December 3) which highlights small business success and aims to encourage consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.
With Christmas around the corner, Rushcliffe residents are encouraged to get involved and show their support for the local high street by shopping in their local villages and towns.
There are upcoming events and activities across the Borough which showcase the variety of talented independent local businesses that Rushcliffe boasts. Find out more about what’s taking place near you:
Bingham
Bingham retailers and estate agents have distributed over 1,000 voucher booklets, offering discounts with 30 local traders, to encourage more residents to shop local and increase footfall in the town. If you’ve been lucky enough to receive one, why not make the most of their special offers when you do your Christmas shopping? Or you could find out if any are left, when you shop with your favourite local businesses!

Local estate agent Jonathan Hammond is running his popular charity Christmas quiz again in support of Childline. This year’s quiz can be found online at: www.hammondpropertyservices.com/quiz
Cotgrave
The Manvers Arms is holding a Christmas Market on Saturday December 10, from 12pm until 5pm. Santa will be in attendance!
Pig & Pudding is running festive wreath-making workshops on Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4.
East Leake
East Leake Christmas Market takes place on Friday December 2, 3pm to 8pm. There’ll be around 40 stalls in Gotham Rd Car Park and at the Village Hall, plus late-night opening at many shops.
Keyworth
Keyworth Festivities Day took place on Saturday November 26, seeing the whole community come together to celebrate the season. The day saw the opening of churches, the village hall, community buildings and the historical George Martyn’s Barn, where people were encouraged to take a step back in time to Christmases past. There’s another chance to visit the barn this coming Saturday December 3.
Keyworth also offers an array of local shops, cafes and a market that opens every Saturday morning in the Pear Tree pub car park.
The village’s annual Bear Hunt ends this week, with 48 cuddly bears being given out to the winning children at the Christmas Market.
Radcliffe
The Royal Oak is hosting a Christmas Market on Saturday December 10, 9am to 2pm. The pub is also running an advent raffle, with daily prizes culminating in an amazing £250 grand prize on Christmas Eve!
Ruddington
Ruddington’s Christmas Market takes place on Saturday December 3, 11am to 5pm, on the High Street and Church Street – with more stalls inside St Peter’s Church, Ruddington Methodist Church Hall, the Framework Knitters’ Museum, and St Peter’s Rooms.
Organisers promise a family event for all, with live entertainment throughout the afternoon. Why not make a day of it and do your Christmas shopping in the village?
West Bridgford
The West Bridgford Way Christmas Elf Trail runs to Friday December 23, with weekly opportunities to win £20 local shopping vouchers. Take part while you do your Christmas shopping!

West Bridgford offers an amazing array of independent gift shops; with Inspirations, Connaught House, Hopkinson, Emilia Ryan and Locally Produced for You on Central Avenue. There’s Henry Brewer Gallery, Iguazu and Rainbows & Lemondrops on Davies Road and Gordon Road. On Melton Road there’s Daisy Daisy and Living HQ and over on Hilton Crescent, Lulu.b.

For a great selection of independent food shops, visit Melton Road – for everything from craft beer to fresh fish, vegetables, baked goods and turkey. Plus flowers, wreaths and Christmas trees too!
A.W. Lymn on Melton Road has teamed up with The Horse and Carriage Company, to support local charity Jasmine’s Wish – with the help of a certain Mr and Mrs Claus – on Saturday 10 December. Look out for their special guests, riding in a traditional horse-drawn carriage – they’ll be visiting Melton Road and Central Avenue.
West Bridgford Vegan Market is back at Lutterell Hall on Saturday December 3, with a winter market from noon to 8pm. The town’s regular Farmers’ Market returns on Saturday December 10 and again on Christmas Eve!
Wreath-making workshops, with seasonal refreshments, are available to book at The Botanist on three dates in December and at Lulu.b’s on Monday December 5.
If you run your own business but would like to attend an ‘Office Christmas party’, you can book yourself in with Rushcliffe Business Partnership at The Botanist on Wednesday December 7, or at Lutterell Hall on December 16 or 17.
For further details about supporting Small Business Saturday, visit: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/about-us
• Revealed: Santa announces tour of West Bridgford roads over four December evenings
• Charity Elf Trail launches in West Bridgford
• Bingham residents redeeming free vouchers from town’s independent businesses