Mayor “really impressed” with festive windows efforts

The festive windows at Books & Ink Bookshop in Banbury town centre’s White Lion Walk are a Winter Challenge Winner! Banbury’s Business Improvement District (BID) invited the Mayor of Banbury, Cllr Shaida Hussain, to judge the festive window dressing skills of town centre businesses, both national and independent.

After a 47-stop visit with BID Town Host, Jo Samways, and Interim Manager, Iain Nicholson – which included meeting some of the business owners and their staff – Cllr Hussain chose a shortlist of eight favourite windows and, from that, two highly commended and the winner.

Cllr Hussain said: “It’s a super effort from everyone. I was really impressed. It has added to the festive spirit in Banbury town centre which is wonderful to see and will hopefully encourage people to shop local.”

Books & Ink Bookshop owner, Sam Barnes, says: “I’m over the moon that our window displays have been chosen, particularly as there are so many brilliant ones in the town centre this Christmas – thank you so much. We love bringing extra festive cheer to the old town with our window displays and always have a lot of fun creating them. We’ve had lots of lovely comments from people admiring our ‘book tree’ in particular, and hope it’s inspired some book-filled Christmas stockings.”

Highly Commended were: Natural Health Store on George Street and Doodledash Interiors on Parsons Street.

Also shortlisted were: Complete Eyecare and Walford & Round Opticians on the High Street, Belflair Chocolates on Church Lane and Flora Bella Flowers and Fancy That Gifts on Parsons Street.