A Santa Claus has spoken of his devastation after he was barred from returning to his usual shopping centre this Christmas.
Mike Ashcroft has donned the iconic red suit and snowy white beard for 50 years to keep the magic of Christmas alive in children’s eyes.
For the past three years, he had been Father Christmas at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in the West Midlands.
He told: ‘I’m a natural Santa, I was born to be him.
‘The children’s reaction is the best part about being Santa, especially those on the cusp of not believing where I manage to turn them round with some evidence.’
But Mike won’t be seeing kids’ faces light up at his usual grotto this year.
He was ‘disappointed and a little angry’ when McArthurGlen Designer Outlet decided to opt with a different Santa this year, especially with such short notice for him.
The company he works with donates most of its profits to NHS charities, so without a new venue they risked being left with £3,000 worth of unused chocolate.
Determined to find an alternative, Mike posted on Facebook expressing his frustration and to his surprise it got thousands of likes and comments.
In the post, he said: ‘The shopping outlet aforementioned have decided that it shouldn’t be about the children, but pure profit for them.
‘I’ll miss seeing all those beautiful little faces and the wonder in their eyes.
‘If you think it may be appropriate to avoid said shopping outlet, that’s entirely your decision.’
Many parents who have visited Mike as Santa took to his post to share support.
One parent commented: ‘We’ve been to see you the last couple of years. My children absolutely loved you, their faces lit up.
‘As parents it was great, real value for money and when money can be tight anyway it was perfect.
‘I won’t be going there as it’s pure greed. I hope you find somewhere as you were absolutely brilliant.’
During his time at the outlet’s grotto, there was a £5 charge for a grotto visit, a photo and a gifted chocolate. But this year, the cost has, on some dates, tripled.
Another mum commented: ‘You made our Christmas so special last year. You had so much kindness for our little boy who is non verbal and has Autism and Global Development delay. I left questioning if you were the real Santa.
‘Keep shining your magic whenever it will be this year and agree with you for not working at the Outlet.’
Mike and his company have secured a grotto in Cannock Town Shopping Centre where there is also a soft play facility and crazy golf for cheap prices.
