The spirit of Christmas (just) past!
January 21, 2025
The Christmas decorations have been put away, the leftover turkey finished and we’ve finally got those cheesy seasonal songs out of our heads! But before we say a final goodbye to the 2024 festive season, let’s take a quick look at how some of our pubs celebrated it – with apologies that we haven’t been able to include all of you. We know it’s a busy time for all our business owners and your teams, so a big thank you to everyone who worked hard during December to give their customers a wonderful Christmas time!
The Blackwood Arms in Burnham Common bought a luxury M&S festive hamper and raffled it in the pub to raise money for Prostate Cancer, announcing the winner – one of the pub’s locals – on Christmas Day. In just three weeks, they managed to collect £1,750 – a very impressive amount which, with an extra 25% from Brakspear’s Giving Back, went up to more thn £2,000. Well done to Sean, Vanessa and the team for tapping into customers’ festive generosity! Watch the film below where Sean talks about what they did.
The Joker in Brighton always lights up its part of the city around Christmas. With decorations including a fabulous door garland of giant baubles, roaring fire, mulled wine and carols from local a capella band Sea of Sound, it really was the place to be over the festive season!
Christmas time is party time at The Joker in Brighton
Bottomless Brunches at The Royal Exchange in Lindford are becoming a local legend! The festive version was no exception, as customers enjoyed a meal, 90 minutes of unlimited drinks and a DJ set including classic Christmas hits. Also during December, business owners Chloe, Amy and Aaron and the team staged a Christmas Charity Quiz, a Santa’s Grotto and carol singing, which together raised an impressive £824 for local Woolmer Forest Lions – with an extra 25% added by the Brakspear’s Giving Back scheme.
Royal Exchange team members at the festive Bottomless Brunch
Nobody can accuse The Bee at Burnham of not marking the festive season after they held a successful Christmas Party, Christmas Karaoke Evening, Christmas Disco and New Year’s Eve Party during December. Well done to business owners Craig and Jon and their team for making their pub the place to celebrate in Burnham!
One of the bands playing at The Bee’s Christmas Party
The Star & Eagle in Goudhurst is known for its stylish seasonal decorations, created by business owner Lizzie. At Christmas, the front of the historic pub was transformed with fairy lights, garlands and two striking nutcracker soldiers at the entrance, helping customers to feel the festive spirit from the minute they arrived.
The Star & Eagle in Goudhurst at Christmas
Business owners Marius & Sarah at The Dew Drop in Hurley hosted a Boxing Day performance of a Mummers play by local Morris dancing group Ellington Morris. This ages-old Christmas tradition involves a cast of characters including St George, Father Christmas and Beelzebub. At the Dew Drop, customers watched the play and enjoyed lunch inside or street food outside the pub.
Nothing says Christmas like carol singing! Apart from carol singing with mulled wine and mince pies. So well done to all the pubs – too many to include here! – who organised this festive tradition, working with local choirs and bands to create a wonderful event for the community.
At The Six Bells in Warborough, business owners Henry & Eve – celebrating their first Christmas at the pub – organised ‘Carols Around the Tree’ outside the pub, led by local Cholsey Silver Band.
At The New Inn, Kidmore End, a group of local musicians led a packed pub through an enthusiastic rendition of Christmas classics, made all the more enjoyable by the roaring fire and festive tipples – and the fact that the event raised money for charity Home-Start Reading. Well done to business owners Ash & Dan, also marking their first Christmas at the pub.
Carols at The New Inn, Kidmore End
The Unicorn in Kingwood teamed up with nearby All Saints Church for an evening of carol singing, led by the church choir. Locals enjoyed the carolling followed by warming Chilli & Cheesy Nachos.