Christmas comes early for Bristol pub
Joanne Johnson, general manager of the Air Balloon in Filton, said people thought she was “crazy” for putting up a Christmas tree – including tinsel, fairy lights and baubles – in July.
“I recently went to a Christmas meeting for Flame and Grill as I am the area support for Christmas,” she said.
"After the meeting I thought right, my Christmas tree is going up, just so people start talking about it really and to get people booking early so they don't get disappointed.
"It's obviously worked as I have bookings coming out of my ears."
'People will copy this'
This is the earliest that Johnson has put up her Christmas tree, as she normally waits until August.
"A few of my locals said they thought I was crazy. People come in and say, 'God, there's a Christmas tree up!'.”
Johnson has proved those people wrong, however, with several bookings for Christmas Day already in the diary.
"I think people will copy this. I think the pub over the road has just put their Christmas tree up.
"I think I'll do it every year now because it's proved that it's worked. I'll have people asking me next year in July, 'Where's the Christmas tree?".
Can you beat Johnson’s Christmas tree in July? Let us know at Georgina.townshend@wrbm.com
