Britain's most festive pub transforms into Christmas grotto two months early
The Empress in Cambridge has transformed into a festive wonderland, with thousands of pounds worth of decorations covering every inch of the pub until January
Britain's most festive pub has been transformed into a Christmas grotto, with thousands of pounds worth of decorations covering almost every inch of the building – despite it still being October.
The Empress in Cambridge has once again embraced the festive spirit, with Christmas jumpers stapled to walls, tinsel wrapped around lights and sparkling baubles hanging from the ceiling.
The traditional pub, owned by Dan Purvis and Richard Mead, spends around two weeks transforming its interiors into a winter wonderland, with the decorations going up in October and remaining in place until the middle of January.
This year's display has seen the team go even further, turning the pub's pizza lounge into a colourful candy cane and gingerbread-themed wonderland.
Staff have been joined by loyal regulars to help bring the festive makeover to life, adding twinkling lights, elaborate ornaments and a mural to the already colourful surroundings.
The early Christmas transformation has become a much-loved tradition at the Cambridge boozer, with customers now eagerly anticipating the moment the decorations appear.
The custom was started by former landlord Dave Utting, who died in 2022. The pub has continued the tradition in his memory, ensuring his festive legacy lives on.
Manager Annie Kelly, 24, said the team had faced some challenges getting everything ready this year, particularly when it came to decorating the outside of the building.
"It's been a pretty big job this year especially with the weather," she said.
"We needed to paint the outside and put lights up which is quite difficult when it's raining.
"We went a little bit more out there this year with themes. The first bar you walk into is crazy, with red and green everywhere.
"Our main bar is lots of lights with baubles, and very sparkly.
"We've made our pizza lounge into a candy cane, gingerbread land."
The preparations have become such an established part of pub life that customers start asking about the Christmas makeover weeks before work begins.
Kelly said some regulars had already been keen to find out when the decorations would go up, even before October had arrived.
"We've had people ask before October even started when we were going to start decorating. It's a usual thing for the pub now," she said.
"Every inch is covered. Our regulars don't even blink an eye. To them, it's normal."
With its colourful decorations, festive-themed lounge and glittering interiors, The Empress is once again bringing Christmas cheer to Cambridge long before December arrives.