Hitchin's much-loved Shop Small Pop Up is set to return to Churchyard Walk later this month, bringing a burst of local creativity and festive spirit to the town centre.

The pop-up reopens at 39 Churchyard Walk on Saturday 27 September 2025 and will run for 12 weeks in the lead-up to Christmas. Visitors can expect to find a wide variety of handmade and locally sourced items including jewellery, candles, homeware, chocolate, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. This year, there will also be a programme of creative workshops for shoppers to enjoy.

The initiative is the brainchild of Jemma Larkin, owner of The Furniture Parlour, who also runs the Shop Small Pop Up markets at Hitchin Town Hall. Those regular markets showcase more than 140 small businesses across the year and have gained a loyal following among local shoppers.

Jemma said: "It's fantastic to be back on Churchyard Walk. The pop-up has always had such a warm welcome from Hitchin shoppers, and it's a brilliant way to give independent businesses a platform at one of the busiest times of year."

North Herts Council has also welcomed the return, noting its value in supporting small traders and breathing life into empty town centre units.

Cllr Tamsin Thomas, Executive Member for Enterprise, said:

"We're thrilled to see Shop Small Pop Up back in Hitchin this year. It's a great way to support local traders and bring more choice and vibrancy to the town centre during the Christmas season."

Small businesses keen to showcase their products still have the chance to apply for a temporary unit at Churchyard Walk, offering them an opportunity to reach new customers during the festive shopping period.

📅 Opening times

• Thursday & Friday: 10am – 4pm
• Saturday: 10am – 5pm
• Sunday: 10:30am – 3:30pm

The pop-up will run until Sunday 21 December 2025.

👉 For more information about applying for a temporary unit, email [email protected] or [email protected].

👉 To find out more about Shop Small Pop Up, follow @shopsmall.popup on Instagram or visit www.shopsmallpopup.co.uk.