Hartlepool pub brings festive cheer to town as it celebrates Christmas on May 30

The Nursery Inn, in the town’s Hopps Street, is marking Christmas again in May after not being able to do so back in December due to the Tier 3 restrictions at the time.

But both staff and regulars are massive fans of the festive season – and back in April pub manager Deborah Humberston promised special celebrations would take place from May 17 when pubs are allowed to serve indoors.

A 14-day advent is now in full force, with decorations inside and customers encouraged to get into the festive spirit and don Christmas outfits.

It will all culminate on Sunday, May 30, when a brass band will sing Christmas carols in the pub and Santa himself will make a visit.

And thanks to an ongoing secret Santa collections, where customers have been donating unisex presents, he will also hand out gifts to people on the day.

Deborah said: “We’ve got Christmas day on Sunday. We’ve got a brass band coming to sing carols. We’ve got Santa coming to hand out presents.

"Everyone’s looking forward to it.”

Speaking of customers’ Christmas outfits, she added: “We’ve had Christmas ties, we’ve had Christmas underwear, we’ve had Christmas jumpers, T-shirts.

"Hopefully on Sunday there will be a few more with Christmas hats on.

“I do keep getting in trouble for singing Christmas carols while I’m working. I don’t even realise I’m doing it.”

The Nursery Inn had only been able to reopen outdoors for the first time this year on April 12 in line with the Government’s road map to lifting lockdown.

Deborah said: "We’ve been really busy. Even in the torrential rain and wind.

"We’re absolutely over the moon. We really didn’t expect it to be that good, especially with the weather.

"It’s just back to normal, really. Well, almost,” Deborah laughed.

She continued: “We were a bit apprehensive at first, because we didn’t know what to expect, but it’s been great.

"It’s definitely lifted the spirits.”

Hartlepool is forecast for a sunny Sunday, with temperatures reaching highs of 16 degrees, and so Deborah feels Santa might need a pint to cool down.

Sunday’s carol service begins at 3.30pm and is free of charge although social distancing restrictions must be observed.

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