Bar and Restaurant Wins Christmas Shop Window Display Competition

A popular bar and restaurant has received first prize in a search to find the best Christmas shop window display in Hailsham.

The B12 Bar & Kitchen in Hailsham High Street was chosen by the Mayor of Hailsham as the winner of this year’s competition set up to encourage businesses to decorate their shop fronts during the festive season.

Windows were judged on visual impact, creativity, artistic merit, inventive use of materials and effort.

Several shop displays were short-listed for the award in Hailsham town centre this year, including Sweethearts Party Shop in George Street, which was selected as this year’s runner-up in the competition. However, there was no topping the efforts of B12, impressing judges with their front window display which incorporated a festive forest theme in the window.

B12 staff members were delighted when the Town Mayor Councillor Paul Holbrook and Chamber of Commerce member Jane Smith (representing Stevens & Carter estate agents), dropped in to hand out the special award.

Luke Kidd, operations manager at B12 said: “We are so happy to have won the best window display this year! Its not something we were expecting to win.”

“When Charlotte our events manager came out with the idea of doing the window display I thought it would just be a bit of fun. We then took it much further than we had expected with foraging for twigs to fitting the two reindeer in the car! We wanted to do something a bit different and I’d like to think we managed it.”

Sam Beale, sales manager at Stevens & Carter commented: “As a member of the Hailsham Chamber of Commerce, Jane Smith, one of our Sales Negotiators was thrilled to be asked by the Town Mayor to help judge the Best Christmas Window Display competition. Jane and Cllr Holbrook had a whopping 35 entries this year to choose from and we are delighted to announce B12 Bar & Kitchen as this year’s winner with its fantastic display.”

“It is amazing to see so many of our local businesses going above and beyond to help create a festive feel throughout the town and you all should feel very proud. We would also like to congratulate Sweethearts Party Shop, coming a close second place.”

Councillor Holbrook said: “We were impressed by the way that some shops had continued their festive theme inside, with many having decorated trees, hanging baubles and tinsel throughout. The dressing-up and decorating of shop windows for Christmas clearly enhances the festive spirit of this important retail period.”

“I’d like to thank all those shops who took the time and trouble to set up such brilliant displays again this year.”