December 2023

24
Wanstead Village Directory
SuppOrtINg DreAms
When you support a small business, you are supporting someone’s
dream, says Wanstead resident Paul Canal, who urges us all to enjoy the
High Street and shop local this Christmas
The sight of our bustling High Street
thronged with Wansteadians, their
friends and visitors gladdens the
heart and quickens the pulse. Our High
Street is the heart of our community, with
an eclectic mix of independent shops,
cafes, bars and restaurants that is the envy
of our neighbours.
Our local businesses are the backbone of
our community in Wanstead, both culturally
and economically. The knowledge, expertise,
products, services and sense of camaraderie
we get from our local independents is
something we cannot mimic elsewhere. Put
simply, local is our past, present and future.
Our local entrepreneurs emerged from Covid
bruised but defiant, and were then hit by the
Ukraine tsunami with rocketing fuel costs
and tighter domestic budgets. Many are still
paying back Covid loans or dipped deep
into personal savings. They need our help to
survive and thrive. Ghost towns happen when
we don’t shop locally. It is time for us all to
step up and spend more of our hard-earned
cash in our local shops.
This Christmas, Britons will spend over £80bn.
Here in Wanstead, the average family will
spend over £2,000. Collectively, we will spend
over £26m. Imagine the impact if we all
pledged to spend a proportion of that here in
Wanstead with our local independents.
When you support a small business, you are
supporting someone’s dream.
Environmental sustainability is another key
advantage of shopping locally. Our local
independents invariably have a smaller
carbon footprint compared to larger chains
and e-commerce giants.
That is why I am challenging every reader of
the Wanstead Village Directory to spend more
locally. Buy your wine from Daygustation,
your fish and smoked salmon from Wanstead
Fish, the best panettone from More Italy.
Get your cards and gifts from The Art Shop
and Moments, your books from Wanstead
Bookshop and make sure your Christmas
flowers come from Lillies and Daisy florists,
who beautifully bookend our High Street.
Adorn your loved ones with jewellery from
Keatings and perhaps some festive fashion
from Azzurra. Laden with bags, put your feet
up at City Place, enjoy a coffee at Bare Brew,
sip a glass of wine at The Cuckfield or lounge
at The Larder, as no High Street has our range
of amazing bars and cafes.
And as you relax, let’s not forget those who
are less fortunate; let’s spread the love. Please
buy some extra food for the Tin in a Bin
foodbank network (wnstd.com/tinabsites)
or make a donation direct to The Wanstead
Charity (wnstd.com/charity), who support the
homeless. That way, we can all have a happy
and healthy Christmas.
Paul Canal is a Wanstead resident and
Conservative councillor for Bridge ward.
To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com