A WINCHESTER shopping centre is preparing for a busy Christmas season with festive pop-ups, choirs and a huge Christmas tree.

The Brooks Shopping Centre will be open for late-night shopping until 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays from November 24 to December 16, in line with the Christmas Market’s hours.

The car park will also be open until 8pm on these days with last entry to the car park at 6pm. 

Two Christmas pop-up shops are open until the end of December, Mr and Mrs Santa Claus is in business on the upper retail floor and Cards for Good Causes is open on the lower floor.

READ MORE: Winchester Christmas shop opens in The Brooks Shopping Centre

@hampshire_chronicle Take a look inside Winchester's Christmas pop-up shop Mr and Mrs Santa Claus. #Christmas #Winchester ♬ Christmas Is Coming - DM Production

The Brooks’ giant Christmas tree will be going up on Saturday, November 25 and provide a focal point for festive performances.

Winchester Rock Choir will be singing throughout the day on Saturday, December 2 and The Westgate School Choir will be entertaining shoppers around the tree on Tuesday, 5 and 12 December from 2-2.30pm. Finally, community choir, Winchester Sings, will perform from 11am on Saturday, December 16.

Hampshire Chronicle: Mr and Mrs Santa Claus and Yarrow Estates director Simon TurpinMr and Mrs Santa Claus and Yarrow Estates director Simon Turpin (Image: Adele Bouchard)

SEE ALSO: Sports Direct to open in former New Look shop in Winchester

To make way for the tree and performance area, the soft play has temporarily been removed and will be reinstalled in early January.

The shopping centre was taken over by Yarrow Estates Ltd, a consortia of investors led locally by Winchester-based investors and developers Gentian, at the beginning of the year and recently announced that Sports Direct will be opening before the New Year.

Yarrow Estates has also concluded other deals for additional tenants who will be announced next year, meaning the shopping centre is fully occupied for the first time in decades.