Make it a Souper Saturday with Thomas of Helmsley
-Event on 2nd December offers samples of freshly made soup and bread, as well as
winter-warmer hot drinks
Celebrating Small Business Saturday, and joining in with the festive events taking place in Helmsley on 2nd December, Thomas of Helmsley will be holding a Souper Saturday for visitors to the town.
From 12noon onwards, the newly revamped deli based on Helmsley’s Market Place, will be offering samples of warming soups along with freshly made artisan breads. All the soup is made in-house with fresh local vegetables and produce. A special mini marquee will be set up at the side of shop, making a welcome sight for those visiting the town’s Christmas Tree Festival which opens for the first time that day, at the All Saints Church opposite.
To get shoppers in the mood for all the festive activities taking place in the town, Thomas of Helmsley will also be giving away mince pies and selling mulled wine and tipsy hot chocolates, with a choice of festive tipples. A range of Christmas gift packs and present ideas will also be on display.
Helmsley’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm outside the shop, by TV celebrity and Yorkshire Vet, Julian Norton. Santa will also be opening his grotto and activities, music and competitions will be running across the afternoon in the Market Place.
John Thomas, founder of Thomas of Helmsley, said: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic idea – it’s great to have an excuse to really champion the small businesses which are the beating hearts of our towns and so integral to our economy. It’s great that yet again Helmsley will be marking the day with lots of festive fun, and being based where we are, we’re right in the middle of the action! We can’t wait to get in to the Christmas spirit with the Swinton Brass Band, the Christmas Tree Festival and the light switch on. No doubt it will be a chilly night, so we’ll be on hand with soup, hot chocolate and mulled wine to warm people up as they gather!”
Thomas of Helmsley is part of the Thomas the Baker group, a family run business established in 1981 which now has a chain of 30 bake shops across Yorkshire. For more information go to For more information about the Christmas events in Helmsley go to
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Notes to editors:
Thomas the Baker was established in 1981 by John Thomas, his wife Valerie and two sons Gareth and Simon, and is still a family business today, with three generations of Thomas’ working within the company. Starting with one shop in Malton, the company now operates 30 across North, West and East Yorkshire, including a café in York and a deli in hometown Helmsley.
The main craft bakery is based on Sawmill Lane in Helmsley, where a state of the art 4.5 acre facility produces everything from the company’s famous Yorkshire Curd Tarts to the two and a half millionsausage rolls it sells every year.
Renowned for quality and value, Thomas’ popular mince pies have won 14 independent taste awards and been dubbed the country’s finest on national TV. Only three people within the firm know the secret recipe. Many other Thomas the Baker products have won awards including Pork pies, Christmas Puddings, Bakewell Tarts, Eccles Cakes, Sausage Rolls and many more.
Thomas’ also has a bake at home range, and can provide party platters, which are perfect for catering any business or personal get together.
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