BUSINESS was booming in Tavistock last week as festive celebrations pulled crowds of people into the town for the annual Dickensian evening and a first time visit from the iconic Cola Cola lorry.

Thousands of people embraced the Christmas spirit and descended onto Tavistock last Friday for the ever popular Dickensian event.

The streets were lined with people who had come from all over Devon and Cornwall, to watch the official light switch-on, start their Christmas shopping and visit the Pannier Market.

Shop owners and staff wore traditional dress and decorated their windows to fit the Dickensian theme – chestnuts were roasted and this year the town also enjoyed a visit from some reindeer.

A snow machine was again provided by John Baldwin’s Jewellers on Duke Street, which made listening to the Christmas carols nearby all the more festive.

Dickensian evening is organised by Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) and supported by the town centre businesses.

This year, thanks to a £5,000 donation from the new Tesco superstore, Tavistock’s Christmas lights were brighter than ever before.

Also rolling into town was the iconic Cola Cola lorry which came to Tavistock for the first time last Wednesday (November 25). Visitors could stand with Santa to have their photo taken in front of the lorry.

Buskers, market stalls and fairground rides were also organised by Tavistock BID and Tavistock Town Council to make more of the evening.

Many local shop owners in the town were grateful for the added footfall that both events attracted.

Verity Cooper from Past and Present said she thought the weather slightly affected this year’s trade during Dickensian evening.

She added: ‘The footfall for Dickensian was up during the day and down during the evening. I think that might be because a lot of people came out late night shopping when the Coca Cola lorry was here (on the Wednesday evening).

‘It wasn’t terrible though but probably down compared to previous years because of the weather but of course we are grateful for any extra footfall.’

Mark Davenport from Kaleidoscope said: ‘We are definitely up on both days from last year. The Coca Cola lorry attracted people into the town so we were definitely up on the Wednesday and that is obviously due to the lorry.

‘Dickensian was up on last year but in the past we have done more. Takings are starting to pick up a bit more now.’

Tavistock Mayor Cllr Sue Bailey agreed that both events were positive for Tavistock. She said: ‘Unfortunately I didn’t see much of the Coca Cola lorry myself but as I understand it went extremely well. Tavistock Town Council was happy to help the Cola team and BID.

‘As for the Dickensian evening the town council is always happy to help BID as it does an awful amount of work. The event is key in helping the town and businesses. Anyone out and about on the evening would have seen the amount of people who came from all over the place to attend. Everyone was happy and joyful and there was no trouble.’

Tavistock BID manager Lisa Piper said: ‘The Coca Cola lorry event was great for the town. Some shops did especially well on that day.

‘There were a lot of people in the town and the music that was put on drove people further into the town. It was a great success and we were really pleased – that event was put on in partnership with the town council.

‘Dickensian evening was also great – we were slightly affected by the weather this time but the reindeer was a great addition. I’d like to thank John Baldwin for the use of the snow machine again this year and the town council works’ department staff for stewarding the event for us.

‘The best dressed window went to Hansford Bell and the runner up was St Luke’s. The best dressed team was Salisbury Henderson and the runner up was the Pannier Market team. The best dressed market stall was Just Ju. It was a hugely successful event and the park and ride was utilised well.’