The immense anticipation of going to see Santa during Christmastime when growing up is a fond memory for many. Waiting in line rehearsing what you’re going to say, sitting on Santa’s lap telling him what you would like for Christmas and being over the moon for days after. Well, Liverpool is the city where it all began, with the first Santa’s Grotto in the world popping up in the 19th Century.
David Lewis is the man known as the creator of the tradition, owner of the Lewi’s department store chain. In 1879, he created what was later deemed by the press as an “introduction to fairyland” and one of the “seven wonders of Liverpool”. We are yet to find out the other six wonders of the city, though!
Located at David Lewi’s store Bon Marche, which was where the old George Henry Lee store is now, the grotto was called ‘Christmas Fairyland’ and had a massive collection of toys from other countries like France. Children could see toy animals, foreign dolls and mechanical toys like ships, dancing dolls, peacocks and more. Among the displays, guests could find “miniature shops” selling “knick-knacks”, music boxes and useful gifts for both children and adults from all over the world.
Whats is more, Lewis saw even more success when he halved the prices of his items during Christmastime compared to his competitors. After all the praise, the grotto became an annual affair known across the UK, Australia the US, with many stores following suit. The tradition on Ranelagh Street continued all the way until Lewi’s closed in 2010. Many Liverpudlians can fondly remember Santa’s Grotto at Lewi’s, which also claimed to be the only place in Liverpool to have the “real” Santa, while all the others were considered his “representatives”.
Since then, the rights to the grotto were bought by the store’s former manager Mike Done, relocating back to where it all began – the George Henry Lee building. However, the grotto, unfortunately, has not returned since 2021.
Edinburgh has also tried to claim the title of the world’s first Santa’s Grotto. While it did host a decorated shop located on 79 George Street (now Cafe Andaluz), and had “Good Old Father Christmas” handing out gifts, it wasn’t quite the same as what Lewis did and did not make it into the Guinness World Records.