Brummies growing up in the city today will have no idea about the city’s rich history of iconic Christmas grottos, many of which were traditional staples of the season.
These grottos were a festive, temporary setup in which children could meet Santa Claus, share their Christmas wishes, and receive a small gift.
There are still plenty of options to enjoy this experience today, including at the National SEA LIFE Centre, Selly Manor Museum, West Midland Safari Park, and Statford Country Park.
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However, there were plenty more that dated back generations, each becoming indistinguishable with the holiday season for many families each and every year.
Lewis’s
For decades until its closure in 1991, hosted Birmingham ’s grandest Christmas grotto.
Generations of local children queued up the department store’s main staircase to enter its massive, floor-spanning festive winter wonderland.
Sadly, the store closed in February of 1991 when the Lewis’s chain went into receivership. It originally opened its doors in 1885 on Corporations Street, before expanding into a massive superstore bridging across The Minories and Bull Street in the 1930s.
Rackham’s
A long line of customers queue up outside the Rackham’s Store as the New Year Sales begin.
2nd January 1973(Image: Mirrorpix)
This was another legendary Christmas grotto in Birmingham, nestled in the top floor of the beloved superstore. The grotto boasted themed settings like enchanted forests or Wind in the Willows displays as children queued to meet Santa.
Back in the 1960s, Rackham’s was the premier store of Birmingham. Housed on Corporation Street following bomb damage caused in World War II, the shop quickly became known as the ‘Harrods of the North’.
House of Fraser owned the brand since 1959, but in 2000 they finally decided to retire it in favour of their own. It all came to an end in 2018, when financial troubles plagued the wider House of Fraser group, before it was rescued by Sports Direct. Yet, the Birmingham location closed.
The Pallasades
Santa’a Grotto at The Pallasades opens for 2010. Elves Snowdrop (left) and Twinkle with Izzy Pearson from Willenhall.(Image: BPM)
This Christmas grotto attracted tens of thousands of people, up to 17,000 in 2012. From the naughties to the 2010s, is served as one of Birmingham’s biggest Christmas experiences for the family.
The Pallasades were once at the heart of Birmingham’s city centre, but in 2015 they were completely redeveloped and reopened as Grand Central.
First opened in 1971 as the Birmingham Shopping Centre before it was renamed in 1988, the multi-level retail space was eventually gutted and transformed into the impressive complex we know today.
The Magical Journey
Santa’a Grotto at The Pallasades opens for 2010. Elves Snowdrop (left) and Twinkle with Izzy Pearson from Willenhall.(Image: Birmingham Mail)
While other grottos are looked back on fondly, The Magical Journey didn’t last long and left our world by going into liquidation owing £875,000.
The attraction opened in November 2014, with an admission of £22.50-per-child. It drew immediate criticism for being unfinished, having long queues, and handing out cheap unwrapped gifts.
Visitors complained about seeing elves smoking, and a festive train even ran out of fuel.
Organisers shut it down for three days to make emergency improvements
Despite reopening and drawing some better reviews, it closed for good on December 16, 2014, after a major financial investor pulled out with nine days left in the season.
