BY the time you read this Bolton town centre will have already switched on the Christmas lights.

Although at the time of writing this has yet to happen, the event promises to be as popular as ever, and I am sure that all of you who turned out last night will have had a terrific time, and will now be feeling that Christmas is only around the corner and the festive spirit will have started to flow!

The town centre has now completely gone into Christmas mode, and late night shopping has been extended on Thursday in the Market Place Shopping Centre and at a number of other venues. The annual round of Christmas parties has already started, I must admit though I am yet to go to one! I usually end up playing catch up at this time of year, but I get there in the end!

The Christmas Cube

Tube -- Snow Slide

Talking of parties, our Christmas event, snow tubing on Victoria Square will be up and running on November 30, and we have already taken a number of group bookings. This facility is available to all age groups, and if you want to have a party with a difference contact this office and we would be delighted to help.

For those of you who want to take a break during your hectic shopping schedule, the Cube Tube is available to entertain your footsore offspring, and perhaps it will put a spring back in their step to enable you to hit the shops once again. As a mother of three I can hear you say, we live in hope.

The Cube Tube is open from 10am to 7pm seven days a week through the run up to Christmas, and the cost of shooting down the slide in a huge rubber tube is £2 for three goes.

The Victoria Hall Toy Appeal in conjunction with Tower FM and ourselves will also run from this venue, and should you wish to donate toys for those less fortunate than yourself. they can be handed in to staff at the log cabin on Victoria Square. This event is truly a community affair, and throughout the period it is running there will be numerous events supported by many organisations in the town.

Fun during filming

A large crowd gathered earlier this week to watch as the town centre's Christmas TV commercial was filmed on Victoria Square with at one point as many as 100 people enjoying the spectacle. Myself and Cathy were highly amused at the editing session on Wednesday, when we were shown one of the "out takes", a definite "It will be alright on the night" type shot.

Our intrepid Santa was thrown one of the rather large tubes for our snow slide from off camera, the tube was perhaps thrown with a little too much enthusiasm, knocking the poor man off his feet! One to look out for in the future I think! Keep your eyes open for the finished version of the TV ad, which will go out from next week on Granada!

Welcome to our new members

We are delighted to welcome two new members to the Town Centre Company. Card Warehouse and Textiles Direct have joined the many businesses that support the work of this Company financially through our membership scheme, and will now take advantage of the many services on offer, we look forward to working with them over the coming year.

Karen Wheeldon

Bolton Town Centre Limited

Market Hall

Knowsley Street

Bolton, BL1 2AR

Tel: 01204 523762

Fax: 01204 523659

Email: Karen@bolton

towncentre.co.uk