Village businesses kick off the Christmas shopping season with mulled wine and turkey sandwiches

Derby people are in for a pocket-friendly tasty treat as they can enjoy a café’s festive menu at a one-time-only discounted rate of just £8.45.

Mrs C’s Tea Cosy, a café on Normanton Lane, Derby usually operates during the daytime but will be welcoming hungry Derby diners as it opens from 5pm till 8pm on Thursday November 2.

The café hopes to create a ‘mini community event’ that will celebrate the Christmas opening night of neighbouring gift shop Homely Passions.

The event this week will see Mrs C’s Tea Cosy, offering their festive food menu at a discounted price so people can enjoy scrumptious food in the café, hop next door to Homely Passions and continue their evening while immersed in all things Christmas.

You can pick festive-related treats from Homely Passions such as a fused glass Highland Cow, pre-lit Christmas trees, reindeer ornaments and more.

Along with a chance to see the gift shop’s new Christmas range, you can also enjoy a free glass of steaming hot mulled wine or bubbles as you browse the gift space.

In the café, diners can choose from a range of festive dishes including sausage, stuffing and apple sauce cob, turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce on chunky ‘doorstop’ bread, and bacon and brie panini.

All these dishes are served with a side salad, coleslaw, crisps and a hot drink for just £8.45.

It is heartwarming to see two independent business owners come together and serve their local community in the cosy neighbourhood of leafy Littleover.

The event could be good for those who don’t have a clue what to buy as gifts for loved ones during this festive season.

Or perhaps it is a must-visit event for super-organised shoppers who want to get a head start on shopping and avoid last-minute chaos the day before Christmas.

Maybe you just really enjoy good food and want to grab a bargain of a full meal for under a tenner.

Or quite simply you could just be a giant Christmas fan and just want to enjoy an evening tucking into a roast turkey cob and sip hot mulled wine surrounded by twinkly fairy lights adorning the gift shop.

Anticipation is building ahead of the event as the café posted on social media: “As my good neighbour and friend Ali at Homely Passions will be holding her Christmas Open Evening next Thursday we thought we’d make a mini community event of it and open too!

“We will be introducing our festive menu at a discounted price, so come along and join both shops for an evening of festive fun.

“Vegetarian sausages are available and the panini is also available as a vegetarian option of brie and cranberry!”

The festive event on Thursday November 2 will run from 5pm till 8pm at these addresses:

Mrs C’s Tea Cosy, 4 Normanton Lane, Littleover, Derby DE23 6GP

Homely Passions, 2 Normanton Lane, Littleover, Derby DE23 6GP