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Lost cats, spare marrows, bin-day confusion and one memorable row about a hedge: Carlton's WhatsApp groups do a lot of quiet heavy lifting. We asked the admins and a few seasoned members how the village keeps its group chat helpful, kind and just quiet enough.
Every December a stretch of Carlton turns into a doorstep judging circuit with no organiser, no entry fee and a running feud about shop-bought pastry. Here's how the Mince Pie Mile started, who's in the running this year, and how to put your street's best baker forward.
On the first Saturday of every month, the village hall fills with broken lamps, wobbly chairs and hopeful neighbours. We spent a morning at Carlton's repair café, where the tea is strong and the volunteers are stubborn in the best possible way.
Small Business Saturday lands on 5 December 2026, and Carlton's independents are ready for a proper village welcome. Here are five shops worth a wander, with opening hours, owner stories and a few practical reasons why spending locally keeps the village ticking through winter.
Carlton's village green will glow again on Saturday 28 November 2026, with a local legend doing the honours, new stalls along the market trail and a choir loud enough to wake the gingerbread. We've also done the hard work on mince pies, so you know exactly where to spend your loose change.