Popping to the pub for a drink on Christmas Day is a tradition for many but with fewer venues opening on the big day these days there's not as many options as there once was. However, when it comes to Wetherspoon's, punters had plenty of choice this year as the chain has opened 16 venues across Nottinghamshire on Christmas Day.
The Trent Bridge Inn in West Bridgford is one of the pubs open today so we paid a visit to speak to locals about what they love most about visiting the boozer on Christmas Day.
For many people going to the pub on Christmas Day is a tradition, and for others its a chance to escape the fuss of cooking a turkey or having dozens of family members come over for a drink at home.
When asked what brought him to the pub, Barrie Turton, 59, of Nottingham, said: “The Beer.” He said: usually I don’t come here, but this has opened at 11am and others haven’t opened yet in town. A lot don’t open now on Christmas Day, even going down Derby Road a lot are not open like they used to be. They are not going to shut a Wetherspoons.”
He added that it’s the “best time of the year” for pubs so they should be open. It’s only been open ten minutes and there’s already more than 15 people here. I can’t understand pubs that shut today. It’s for people that need a break from the family."
Painter and decorator, Mick Oram, 57, of Lady Bay, said: “Every Christmas Day we come to the pub, it’s just what we do. We come and have a few beers and then go for Christmas dinner. I usually come here in the week anyway. They are all really helpful staff, they are always cheerful and polite and we come a lot so they all know us.!
Cleaner Ashley Storey, 36, of Lady Bay added: I just come out for the drinks before Christmas dinner and take my granddad out for a game of pool before Christmas dinner at my mums.
Kevin Wilkinson, 68, of West Bridgford said: “I love this place and the staff are friendly all the time and there’s some brilliant people here.” Mr Wilkinson said he likes going to the pub to socialise as there’s “too much misery in the world.” He added: "This is actually my first time coming in on Christmas Day and it’s nice, it’s a lovely environment and everyone is great.”
Retired, Alan Howells, 82 of West Bridgford said he’s at the pub because: “It’s the season of tradition. Most years we come here.”
Most people come to the pub in Christmas Day. I can remember my mum moaning about my dad going to it. I just come in for a pint before we have dinner as a family. It’s £5 for a pint down the road and here it’s only £2.29 for a bitter. Regardless of what people say about Wetherspoons they do what it says on the tin, if it says it’s open its open. You can’t beat this place.
One visitor who did not wish to be named said she was here because she “didn’t want to make breakfast and I wanted to come out to the pub for breakfast. She was left disappointed after finding out they weren't serving food but they stayed for a drink.” When asked if this is something they do every year, she said: “Not every year. we go to the Wetherspoon's in the centre sometimes.”
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