A shopping centre is set to welcome back its Christmas event for families with a little help from a new reindeer recruit.

Bluewater, which scrapped its traditional Santa's grotto last year amid the pandemic, is set to reprise its "immersive experience" for the festive season, called Believe.

In previous years the Greenhithe-based retail outlet has welcomed Father Christmas and his elves to an outside grotto, visited by thousands of families, alongside an undercover ice rink with festive food and drink stalls.

This winter will see the return of the Christmas grotto experience but with a difference.

Children will be welcomed into a mystical cavern where they’ll meet one of Santa’s trusted elves, McJingles and the magical talking reindeer, Norbert.

They’ll have the chance to make reindeer food in prep for Christmas Eve and even enjoy a one-to-one with the man in red himself.

Each child will also receive a gift and the opportunity to take away a photo of the occasion.

Bluewater says the health and safety of guests remains its priority and that it has taken a number of precautions to ensure visitors can enjoy the experience without concern.

The Believe experience will open from Friday November 26 until Christmas Eve and is located outside The Village, near Zizzi’s restaurant.

Tickets are set to go out on exclusive pre-sale for registrants from Monday September 6.

To access its exclusive pre-sale, customers are asked to first register at on the centre's website, by clicking here, before midnight on September 5.

Pre-sale is only open exclusively to those registered from 10am on Monday 6 September 2021.

Tickets will go on general sale on September 13.

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