A leading north east attraction, renowned for its destination shopping experience, is extending its retail space to create a unique Christmas Emporium.
Raby Castle, Park and Gardens’ Coach House Shop, home to luxury homeware, gifts, furniture and fashion, styled alongside reclaimed pieces from across the estate, is expanding into the Riding School to create an enchanting Christmas department store this year.
The official launch evening for the Christmas Emporium is on Thursday 8th October between 4pm and 7pm. This nostalgic space will be brimming with Christmas décor featuring delicate baubles, twinkling lights and unique stocking fillers.
The Tutti store is also moving to the Riding School, showcasing the new Autumn/Winter clothing collection, designed for the rhythm of everyday life. Fluid tailoring, tactile knitwear, considered outerwear and easy silhouettes come together to create a wardrobe that feels effortless yet polished.
The Coach House Shop will remain home to a range of gifts from notable and highly sought after premium brands including Plum & Ashby and Elizabeth Scarlett, beautiful seasonal homeware and a carefully curated selection of thoughtful gifts, ideal for those who are difficult to buy for. It will also feature a new food emporium hosting an exclusive range of premium brands.
The expansion to create Raby’s Christmas Emporium is to keep up with the demand it experienced last year for festive gifts and decorations.
Stephanie Goss, retail, buying and merchandising manager at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens said: “We were blown away by the response to our 2025 Christmas selection, which we’d thoughtfully curated throughout the year in preparation, and our baubles and decorations were exceptionally popular – a lot of these were snapped up in the first few weeks.
“By utilising the expansive space in the Riding School, we’ve created our very own Christmas haven, providing our visitors with a wider range of distinctive decorations and gifts for friends and loved ones to choose from this year.
“The Christmas Emporium also provides an immersive festive experience, featuring seasonal fragrances and an atmosphere full of rich red, gold and green colours that signal Christmas, and is a fantastic addition to the stress-free destination shopping that Raby is well known for. With free on-site parking, our helpful staff and inspirational landscape, including the castle and deer park as the backdrop, Raby provides a memorable outing over simply shopping for just products.”
Mulled wine, deluxe hot chocolates and bratwurst sausages will be available from the Estate Pop Up throughout the launch evening. From Saturday 14th November, Raby’s Christmas Emporium will also include a festive café area, providing an ideal place to indulge in some treats after Christmas shopping.
The expansion follows an impressive growth in Raby’s retail operation, which has seen its Coach House Shop achieve a 30% growth in revenue year on year, since opening in 2024.
Raby believes the overall destination shopping experience it provides is proving to be the biggest success. Alongside free parking and a calm shopping experience, visitors can also enjoy a full day out in the grounds – whether that’s heading to The Vinery Café for a relaxed lunch or meeting friends for a glass of fizz, strolling through the Walled Gardens, or visiting the free-to-enter exhibition space.
For the Christmas period, the magnificent Entrance Hall in the castle is hosting Raby’s popular festive afternoon tea and castle tour on selected dates in December once again, with a festive afternoon tea also available in The Vinery Cafe, where visitors can soak up the panoramic views of the castle.
For further information about Raby Castle, Park and Gardens and its Christmas Emporium launch evening, visit: www.raby.co.uk/events/christmas-shopping-evening/
