Christmas countdown starts as Mecca Hartlepool hosts festive party in June

There is now less than six months to go until the most wonderful time of the year and the Mecca Hartlepool bingo club went all festive to mark the occasion.

The branch hosted a special event to reclaim last Christmas after coronavirus restrictions back in December 2020 left Poolies unable to celebrate as they normally would.

"Junemas” saw the venue transformed with Christmas decorations as staff and customers donned festive outfits and enjoyed festive music and treats on Friday, June 25, to mark six months until Christmas Day itself.

Operations manager Neil Lamb has said customers enjoyed the festive summer afternoon and that staff got into the Christmas spirit as well.

He said: “It went really well, the customers have enjoyed it.

"We had some mince pies, we had customers coming in fancy dress and Christmas jumpers.

"It’s been a really good afternoon.

"All the staff have Christmas jumpers, they’ve got Christmas hats and joined in with it as well.”

Neil explained: "Christmas is quite big in here, we do Christmas parties, we do a lot of events over Christmas.

"Obviously, we’ve missed them all last year, which is a massive shame, but this is to replace that a little a bit and hopefully when the restrictions are lifted we’ll be able to have a bigger and better Christmas in December.”

“Junemas” kicked off “a summer of missed moment events” in Mecca clubs.

Mecca Hartlepool manager Michelle Doherty said: "With the entire nation being in lockdown last Christmas, many did not get the chance to celebrate like they normally would, so we are determined to turn that into a nicer memory."

It has been one of the festive events delighting Christmas fans in the town recently following the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions.

Hartlepool pub the Nursery Inn hosted its own festive celebration less than a month ago.

The Hopps Street pub dusted down the decs and invited Hartlepool Brass Band to play carols in the bright sunshine on Sunday, May 30, with Santa himself making an appearance as well.

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