Judges march through the city centre seeking out Penguins!

13th December 2018

Plymouth’s city centre retailers have pulled out all the stops this Christmas with outstandingly creative window displays to welcome 20 life size LEGO® brick penguins to Britain’s Ocean City.

Penguins: A LEGO brick trail is a brand new event for Christmas 2018 and was launched in the city centre on Monday 3 December. As the trail has already been so successful, the team have decided to extend the finishing date to Monday 7 January 2019, giving families more time to take part. The closing date for all entries to be submitted is Monday 14 January 2019.

The trail is suitable for all the family to enjoy and take part. Nineteen Rockhopper penguins and one Emperor penguin have been hidden in stores across the city centre and families are encouraged to find the names of all 20 to enter a competition to win some great prizes.

The participating retailers were also given the chance to win big, with a prize of £150 to spend at The Treasury for the best window display.  Holly Reynolds, Marketing Manager of Plymouth City Centre Company and Sara Tapp from Plymouth City Council’s Marketing team were joined by Mrs Hanson and six children from Pilgrim Primary School to judge the best display.

The judging party made their way around all of the 20 shops and cafes, searching for the most colourful and creative window display. These included: Drakes Jewellers, Holland & Barrett, The Treasury, Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Hive Mind, Plymouth Market, Raymonds, Cathy’s Flowers, Stylus Engravers, Michael Spiers, Central Library, Copthorne Hotel, Footloose and Fancy Dress, The Art Side, Lawsons, Specsavers, Coffee#1, Plymouth Citybus Shop, Waterstones and Moments Café.

Each judge voted for their favourite display, which caught their attention and best followed the penguin theme.

Holly Reynolds, Marketing Manager, said: “We have had such a great time judging the best dressed window display and it’s been a real pleasure to have the help from school children of Pilgrim Primary School and to see them enjoying the trail. It was great to see many other school groups across the city centre joining in the trail too.

“We all came to the decision that the most deserving winner is Michael Spiers, whose penguin was appropriately decorated in pearls and jewels.

“It has been amazing to see the businesses so excited by the trail, and the fantastic life size LEGO brick penguin sculptures. As well as being a great family fun activity, the trail is also a great way to explore the fantastic retail offer in the city centre”.

David Treweeks, Assistant Manager at Michael Spiers, said: “Thank you to the wonderful children who have taken part in the Penguin Trail this year and especially to those that judged the competition. We are overwhelmed that children have chosen us as their winner this year, with our Penguin who has been staying with us under our Christmas tree.

“We have been delighted to welcome in all the participants into our store, where we have been giving away handfuls of chocolate coins to the ecstatic boys and girls. They really have brought the Christmas spirit into the city centre, our team as well as our clients here in Plymouth have certainly felt like kids again with the excitement rubbing off.”

The trail cards can be collected from participating retailers, libraries or the Tourist Information Centre, or download from visitplymouth.co.uk.  Look out for the shop window stickers for details on special offers and discounts that can be claimed with the trail cards.

Complete your trail card for the chance to win a weekend family break for four people to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, courtesy of Plymouth Citycoach, or a Penguin Feeding Experience at Living Coasts for four people. 

Completed entries can be posted in one of Santa’s post boxes located at: Drake Circus, outside Waterstones New George Street and Plymouth Market; or sent in a sealed envelope to: Penguin Trail Competition, Plymouth City Centre Company, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ.

Don’t forget to visit the Santa Express LEGO brick train, before 3 January, which is located at the Old Town Street entrance of Drake Circus. Children can even climb on board! It’s a great place for a festive photograph.

Families can also get their hands on and build their own LEGO brick mini penguins or mini Santa at Plymouth Market on Saturday 15 and 22 December. Or make a LEGO brick reindeer at Ocean Studios on the 15 December.

Find out more here.