LLANDUDNO’S late night Christmas shopping event saw more than 70 businesses take part in festive fun last week.

Held from December 13-16, the event organised by local action group the Friends of Mostyn Street, saw stores, cafes and bars in the town centre open until 8pm.

Craig-y-Don also joined in the fun with a special event called the Little Christmas Cracker, which complemented the main event in Llandudno’s shopping area and showed the cross-town support for the initiative.

The aim of Merry Mostyn Street was to create a warm, welcoming Christmas atmosphere for shoppers, increase footfall for town centre businesses and encourage festive Christmas window displays to attract shoppers.

The latter included a best Christmas window or frontage competition sponsored by Llandudno Town Council.

Shoppers were also encouraged to take part in a free Merry Mostyn Street Christmas Trail, which involved getting at least 20 stamps on a special map from venues involved in the event and posting them in a special post box at the Magic Bar by 5pm on the Saturday.

Attractions throughout the four nights included special promotions in participating businesses, local choirs, singers and performers at various locations, a vintage tram parading through the town centre, and street hosts on duty each evening to welcome and interact with shoppers.

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The frontage display prize was won by Dudley and George’s General Store for Dogs and Humans in Upper Mostyn Street, and owner Justin Pinnick was on hand at a special ceremony to collect his trophy and prize from Llandudno Town Mayor and Greg Robbins and this year’s Miss Alice.

The competition was judged by five anonymous and independent members of the public who came to their decision based on strict criteria adopted from similar competitions in other UK towns.

The White Tower Greek Restaurant gained second place and boutique florist Natalyas Home Story came third.

The Milverton and Tynedale Hotels also received special recognition in honour of their outstanding displays among the seafront hotels.

The Mayor and Miss Alice also drew the winners of the Christmas Trail competition for prizes including spending money for Clare’s Department Store’s 2024 new season men’s and women’s collections, a cash prize kindly sponsored by Llandudno Pier, toboggan vouchers for Ski Llandudno, a voucher for Dudley & George’s General Store for Dogs & Humans, a family ticket to the Great Orme Mines Llandudno, and a prize from WHSmith Llandudno.

Francis Davies of The Friends of Mostyn Street commented: “This was the first late-night Christmas shopping event for many years and we were pleased with the response from businesses and the support shown by the wider town.

“We hope to create a new tradition with Merry Mostyn Street and we are grateful for the feedback and suggestions received about how we can make the event even better in future.

“I would urge anyone who wants to get involved to get in touch. Planning for next year starts now!”