Operator's bid to become the ‘most festive-spirited pub company’

At the Seaburn Inn in Sunderland, a number of pensioners who live alone enjoyed live entertainment and a three-course festive meal, including a lunch which was delivered to 93-year-old Lyn Overend who had been due to attend the party and switch on the inn’s Christmas lights, but was housebound.

While in Cumbria, at the Waterhead Inn at Ambleside and the Coniston Inn as well as the Angel Inn at Bowness on Windermere and the Kings Head Inn at Newton Under Roseberry, people affected by power cuts caused by Storm Arwen were offered free bed and breakfast, hot food, showers, and drinks until power was restored at their homes.

Celebrating the festive season 

The Inn Collection Group’s operations director David Campbell said: “This Christmas is more special than ever before, after the challenges of the past 19 months, it’s the first time we can all look forward to celebrating the season together with our loved ones. 

“For that reason, we wanted to pull out all the stops this year and deliver an unforgettable experience for our customers and the communities around our inns.”

Alongside the community Christmas parties and shelter, the pub operator also opened a pop-up ice rink at the Black Swan in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, as well as plenty of festive décor with sites decorated with up to three miles of Christmas lights, 2,400 feet of garland, 100,000 bulbs, 20,000 baubles and 60 Christmas trees.

Delivering Christmas spirit 

Campbell added: “We wanted to embody the whole spirit of Christmas and that means helping others, whether that’s opening our doors to people affected by the recent storms or giving to the communities around our inns with seasonal projects like our ice rink and older people’s Christmas party.

“It’s the most wonderful time of year and our inns are delivering that Christmas spirit on every level.”