Christmas spirit is alive and well at historic Pump Room
CHELTENHAM’S iconic Pittville Pump Room is a place made for Christmas, but there is little mention in the record books of it being at the heart of the town’s festive period since opening in 1830.
The history books talk about summer balls, visiting circus acts, boating and promenades through the park, but no mention of Christmas.
This year, The Cheltenham Trust is proud to say the magic and sparkle of Christmas is at the Pump Room. At a time when our festive traditions of music and carols, mulled wine and mince pies, children’s nativities and Christingles, carol concerts and midnight masses are restricted or unable to go ahead, Christmas at the Pump Room is helping to bring the festive season to the community.
The trust has created its own version of the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, at the outdoor Heritage Café at the Pump Room.
Please sing along, but only if you are socially distanced, and preferably outdoors:
‘On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
1. 4,400 cups of coffee – it seems it’s not Christmas without a steaming hot cup of coffee
2. 1,400 hot chocolates – definitely a Cheltenham favourite this Christmas
3. 550 cakes – well, it wouldn’t be Christmas without cake, would it?
4. 335 mulled wines and 250 mince pies – this festive treat has been going down a storm this December
5. 280 home-made Christmas pasties
6. 150 hot turkey baps – getting us all in the mood for Christmas Day dinner
7. Seven festive choirs and groups of singers bringing carols and Christmas songs
8. 225 paninis
9. 120 muffins
10. 120 doughnuts
11. 100 bags of festive cakes 12. 550 cups of tea …and a lot of twinkling Christmas trees!’
So, if you’re looking for the magic of Christmas in this extraordinary year, maybe a visit to Pittville Park and the Heritage Café will not only put you firmly in the festive mood, it will lift your spirits and improve your wellbeing. Above all else, it will give us all that sense of hope for better things to come.