Pub Xmas tree is up ALREADY

THE big day may still be four months away, but one pub is already getting into the festive spirit – becoming the first in the country to put up its Christmas tree.

While most of us might argue that it’s far too early, landlady Joanne Johnson said the tree had actually gone up late this year as it was decorated in July last year.

Visitors dropping by for a summer drink at the Air Balloon pub in Filton, Bristol, will not fail to spot the flashing tree at the bar – which is exactly what the pub wants. Miss Johnson said: ‘I don’t really do it for the purpose of decorating the pub, it’s more for advertising – to let people know that we’ve started taking Christmas dinner bookings.

‘Last year I put up the tree in July. I delayed it a bit this year because of the World Cup – but I did have some regulars saying to me, “It’s late this year”.’

The tree went up last Thursday, and will presumably stay up for the next four months. ‘I understand that some people will come in and don’t really appreciate seeing a tree up and so on,’ Miss Johnson added. ‘But most people enjoy it and some even have a jokey sing-song.’