Festive pub

Britain’s 'most festive' pubs sees spike in trade

By Helen Gilbert

- Last updated on GMT

The Churchill Arms wows crowds with its Christmas lights display
The Churchill Arms wows crowds with its Christmas lights display

Related tags West london Notting hill

A West London pub dubbed ‘Britain’s most festive’ has seen trade almost double in one weekend after unveiling its most extravagant Christmas display to date

Fuller’s-owned The Churchill Arms in Kensington, west London, has decorated the outside of the building with 85 Christmas trees and 21,000 lights – the largest number in its 266-year-old history. 

General manager Gerry O’Brien, who has run the pub for 32 years, said the efforts of his team had "stopped traffic" and resulted in visitors flocking to the glowing venue. 

“As you come up the street from Notting Hill Gate you see more and more trees and then it suddenly hits you,” O’Brien told The Morning Advertiser​.

'It's causing great cheer'

“The reaction from people has been amazing. It’s like having a party every day of the week. It’s a lovely feeling, it’s causing great cheer and bringing people in. I think we’re 45% up [on takings] in total over the two days on the same weekend last year.”

O’Brien and his team spent a week and half decorating the pub, which has been named Britain's 'most festive' on Twitter.

This involved 5am starts and late-night finishes as well as four days erecting wooden pillars to secure the real Christmas​ trees, which vary in size from four, six and eight feet, onto the outside of the building. 

'People thank us for making the street' 

There are also five "huge" trees inside, O'Brien said. 

Last week the pub’s longest regular, a 75-year-old known to staff as Jeffery, officially turned on the lights. 

“We’re getting great comments and people coming in to thank us for making the street,” O’Brien added. “[32 years ago] we had one big tree to start with, then maybe four, then eight, then ten.

"Now at this stage we have 85 [outside], I didn’t think we’d have that many. I saw a black cab driver stopping and passengers taking pictures, cars were behind but no one was beeping or bothering.

"I don’t think we’ve ever had such reaction. It’s touched me more than ever. I can’t wait for it to get dark every afternoon, then on the lights go.” 

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