SIP, CHAT AND UNWIND

In celebration of National Tea Day (21 April), Highcross Shopping Centre is brewing up something special.

This Friday (19 April), we’re giving away 100 free cups of tea from Greggs as part of our brand new ‘Grab a Brew’ event.

Open from 10am to 12pm, the Highcross event space - located opposite Greggs on the lower mall - will transform into a cosy haven, where you’re invited to unwind, and share your thoughts on wellbeing in a supportive environment.

Coinciding with Stress Awareness Month, the ‘chatty’ morning aims to encourage open conversations about mental health, supported by Highcross’ own Wellbeing Champions as well as representatives from Shaw Trust, Highcross’ Charity of the Year. Shaw Trust is a local Leicester-based organisation, providing educational, training and employment support to disadvantaged members of the community.

Partnering with Highcross to supply 100 cups of its popular brew, Greggs is also celebrating the recent re-opening of its Highcross store. After an extensive six-week refurbishment leaving us all longing for its much loved sausage rolls (vegan or otherwise), the newly-revamped store now boasts a much larger space and an expanded menu, including a full range of food and iced drinks.

Summing up the pop-up event, Jo Tallack, senior general manager of Highcross, said:

“We all lead incredibly busy lives, and with everyone facing different work and home-life challenges, it can be hard for people to find a safe space to open up about the stresses and strains they’re feeling, day-in-day-out.

“At Highcross, we know the importance of taking the time to slow down and enjoy some well-deserved ‘me time’. And, as such, we’re delighted to partner with Greggs and our team chosen charity of the year, Shaw Trust, to welcome our visitors to enjoy a moment of rest and relaxation with a free cup of tea and an engaging chat.

“Highcross’ ‘Grab a Brew’ morning not only allows us to celebrate the reopening of Greggs, but it’s also one of the many events we run to encourage engagement within our community and embrace the power of making connections. I’d personally like to invite anyone and everyone to join us this Friday. We’ll get the kettle on.”

Olivia Pitt, employer engagement specialist from Shaw Trust Leicester, emphasised the significance of community connection for mental wellbeing, saying:

“At Shaw Trust, we understand the power of connection and conversation for mental health and wellbeing. Social isolation can be a real challenge for many of the people we support, and initiatives like the ‘Grab a Brew’ event at Highcross Shopping Centre are fantastic opportunities to combat this.

“By creating a welcoming space for people to connect over a cup of tea, Highcross is helping to foster a sense of community and belonging – something that is so important for mental well-being. We’re delighted to be involved in this event and look forward to chatting with visitors about our work.”

So, come along and join us, the Highcross team, Shaw Trust and Greggs at ‘Grab a Brew’ between 10am and 12pm on Friday 19 April. Let’s raise our cups, share some smiles and make meaningful connections. After all, a good cup of tea is best enjoyed in good company.

For more information about our events at Highcross, visit https://www.highcrossleicester.com/events or follow our social media channels – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X.