Charlies on Tewkesbury Road pays for one shopper's basket every hour on 7 and 8 November, 15 in all, with Santa, food tasters and live music. Free entry.

Charlies Cheltenham will pay for one shopper’s basket every hour across its Big Christmas Weekend on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. The Tewkesbury Road store is open for 15 hours over the two days, which gives 15 chances to reach the till and find the shopping is free.

The weekend is free to attend, with free parking on site and no tickets needed, according to the store’s event page. It runs during normal opening hours: 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

What is on

Santa and his elves will be in the store. Children can meet him and have a photo taken, and Charlies says some may take home a small gift. There are also free food tasters, live music and glitter tattoos through the weekend.

The store, which opened in October 2025, is pitching the event at families from across Gloucestershire as the start of its festive season. Charlies says it will have its best prices on every Christmas product that weekend, along with offers on clothing, footwear, garden, tools and DIY, and it is telling shoppers to arrive early because the best buys will not last once they have gone.

The Christmas range

The company lists what it carries for Christmas at the Cheltenham store:

  • Christmas trees: traditional, pre-lit and snowy
  • Christmas lights, from tree lights to large light-up figures for the garden
  • Wreaths, garlands and decorations
  • Gifts for the family
  • Things for hosting, from guest bedding to kitchenware for Christmas dinner

“Our way of saying thank you”

Hollie Clark, the store manager at Charlies Cheltenham, said the weekend marks the end of the shop’s first year in the town.

“Every hour, someone is going to get to the till and find out their basket is on us, and we can’t wait to see their faces,” she said. “Cheltenham has given us such a warm welcome in our first year, and this weekend is our way of saying thank you.

“When it comes to Christmas, you won’t find better than Charlies. The tree, the lights, the presents, everything for Christmas dinner: it’s all under one roof at our best prices, with a team who are always happy to help. Our advice is to come early, because when the best buys are gone, they’re gone.”

What it means for you

  • When: Saturday 7 November, 9am to 6pm; Sunday 8 November, 10am to 4pm.
  • Where: Charlies Cheltenham, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9AA.
  • Cost: free entry and free parking; no tickets needed.
  • The free baskets: one shopper’s basket is paid for each hour the store is open during the event. Charlies has not published how the winner is picked each hour, so ask in store if you want the detail.
  • More information: Charlies’ Cheltenham Christmas event page.

Planning the rest of the season? The Journal’s Christmas market dates, Santa grottos and steam specials and Christmas concerts are all listed.

Sponsored feature for Charlies Cheltenham.