06 Nov 2025
St Albans’ The Maltings Shopping Centre is encouraging people to love their high street this Black Friday with their ‘Skip the Click’ campaign.
Instead of joining the online rush for purchases, shoppers are encouraged to celebrate High Street Friday on Friday November 28, enjoying real experiences, friendly faces, and one-of-a-kind finds across St Albans’ amazing array of shops, restaurants and cafés.
Independent retailers and national brands throughout The Maltings will be joining forces to offer exclusive Black Friday promotions, in-store events, tastings, giveaways, and more.
The campaign taps into growing fatigue with impersonal online shopping and reminds people that shopping locally helps sustain the heart of the community.
The Maltings centre manager Richard Marrett explained:
“This campaign is about our retailer community coming together to remind people what makes shopping in St Albans so special. It’s not just about great products, it’s about the people behind them, the conversations, and the sense of connection you only find on your local high street. When we choose to shop local, we’re investing in each other and helping our city centre flourish.”
Businesses across The Maltings Shopping Centre are busy preparing a host of in-store events, exclusive promotions, and surprises for Black Friday weekend, with more details to be revealed soon.
One highlight already confirmed is a major Black Friday event at Vache Bleue Galleries, featuring an exclusive silent auction of artwork, memorabilia, and unique experiences in aid of Youth Talk, the local mental health charity for young people in the district.
Vache Bleue Galleries are also teaming up with fellow Maltings businesses, including Hotel Chocolat and Rituals, to offer guests indulgent treats and sample products throughout the event.
And that’s just the beginning, with many more stores set to announce their own offers, tastings, and in-store moments as High Street Friday approaches.
For the latest updates, in-store offers, and event announcements, follow The Maltings Shopping Centre on social media @themaltings_stalbans, and shoppers
can share their finds using #SkipTheClickStAlbans.
