Sandon will host a free Christmas Eve breakfast with Santa so kids don’t miss out

The Sandon Complex in Anfield is hosting a free Breakfast with Santa on Christmas Eve so children don’t have to miss out on a special experience despite tough financial times.

Owner Kate Stewart wants to take some of the pressure off parents who are struggling in the cost of living crisis with all the extra demands of Christmas time.

She’s opening the hotel on Christmas Eve morning from 10am to 12noon for 100 local kids from anywhere in Liverpool to meet Santa and be given a small gift and a pair of Christmas pyjamas.

There’ll also be one of Santa’s elves at the party to keep children entertained with games and a disco.

“The thought of a child missing out on a Christmas experience breaks my heart and I can’t let that happen,” says Kate. 

 “I’ve been there and I know what it’s like when you haven’t got the money and you’re looking at every other kid doing these things and your kid’s missing out. 

“There’s so much pressure on parents, that feeling of competition is unbelievable, and in these difficult financial times people just haven’t got it.

“Some Christmas experiences can be £25 each so if you’ve got three kids that’s £75. It’s a lot of money and if you’re struggling, how do you find that?

“I wanted to do this, let kids have the experience and if the parents do have a little bit of surplus they can use it to buy the kids gifts.

“Nobody needs to be embarrassed about coming, we just want as many kids as possible to come in, have a lovely morning and enjoy it.”

The Sandon regularly puts on community events throughout the year to bring together all ages. Last Christmas they held a community Christmas market where everyone could come Christmas shopping and everything was free.

“But businesses are struggling so they haven’t really got extra to give, so we thought what can we do for the kids to give something back?

“You look after your own and I am in the position where I am able to help people out so I’ve got a responsibility to make sure that through tough times people get the support they need – it’s about all sticking together and being a team. 

“It’s not just for Anfield, it’s for the whole of Liverpool, it’s a celebration of the year and to put a smile on kids’ faces.”

Kate says to book a place, parents just need to either drop the Sandon a message on socials, email hello@thesandon.com or they can call the Sandon and book their kids in. They’ll just need to give the age/size of each child so the pyjamas can be brought in advance. 

“I’ll be ordering them on the 22^nd to arrive on the 23^rd so they’re all there and ready to give out at the Santa breakfast. 

“Christmas Eve jarmies are something special in Liverpool and there’s nothing nicer than looking at the kids in their Christmas jarmies waiting for Santa.”

Find out more about The Sandon HERE.

Get the latest Christmas news for Liverpool HERE and visit our calendar to see what’s on across the city region as the countdown continues HERE.