Rye shops playedScrooge claims

Rye Chamber of Commerce managed to light up the town and put on the festival to encourage people to come into town despite only having a small team and limited support from traders.

Mince pies and mulled wine were in short supply in the town’s shops at the weekend in contrast to Battle where shop staff dress up and shops offer seasonal refreshments.

Neil Cunliffe, from Rye Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is a shame the shops did not make more of Saturday.”

Rye resident Ian Slora said: “We invited several members of the family down for the weekend,

“Alas, the spirit of Scrooge was rampant. We visited Concepts and Forget Me Not, but not so much as a sniff of mulled, or whiff of mince pie!

“As for Wishbarn Antiques who were visited in the prime time slot on Saturday afternoon, well, they must have been in breach of the Trade Descriptions Act - no carol singing, no mince pies, no traditional decorations of any significance.

“We enjoyed some festive refreshment in The Mermaid Inn at £25 for five glasses of mulled wine and a non alcoholic beer!

The event should be restored to a worthwhile status or don’t hold it in the first place. Saturday’s event publicity was an exercise in false pretences.”

The planned Christmas Market at Strand Quay had to be abandoned as flooding during the week affected the power supply.