Pub group cuts the crackers for Christmas

Pubs-go-crackerless-for-Christmas-to-fight-plastic-waste.jpg
What a cracker: Uphouse Pubs is on the front foot in the fight against plastic waste

Family-run pub group, Uphouse Pubs, is breaking tradition by going crackerless this Christmas to help aid the battle against plastic waste by pubs.

The George & Dragon, in Holmes Chapel, and the Antrobus Arms, in Northwich, both in Cheshire, can get through a total of 4,500 crackers during December.

This year, the pubs will join forces with the Marine Conservation Society to fight the war against plastic.

Uphouse Pubs representative Martin Barnes said: “It’s always been a battle of how much you spend and how much you waste.

“And when we looked deeper into the waste that is produced, it just seemed like a no-brainer to not do the crackers.”

Getting the word out

Barnes said he picked the Marine Conservation Society as the group’s charity because it has also joined the battle against plastic.

He added: “They also have a good following. Therefore, if ‘pubs going crackerless’ were to get bigger, I think they could potentially help getting the word out there.”

So far, the campaign has seen a positive reaction on social media.

Barnes continued: “It’s traditional to have crackers at Christmas and breaking a tradition can be difficult.

“There may be some people that will be disappointed that we don’t have Christmas crackers but will probably be understanding.”

More than just a cracker

Barnes said Christmas celebrations in their pubs offers a lot more than just the cracker.

He continued: “Do people remember the Christmas cracker?

“No, they remember the quality of the food, the service, the atmosphere and the value for money.”

On top of this battle, the pubs also offers reusable metal straws and recycle as many kitchen products as possible.