On Friday 28 January the Kings Arms will host Christmas Part Two where customers can choose from a buffet meal or a full turkey dinner while wearing their Christmas jumpers and listening to live music and DJs, who have been instructed to play festive hits such as Marish Carey and the Pogues.
Marshall said: “In mid-December, after a lot of people had cancelled Christmases, I had the idea for Christmas part two and when we hit January, I sat down with the managers and said we can do this one more time.
Not giving up
“It's very tongue in cheek, but at the same time, we've had a really good response for it so far. People are quite receptive to the fact we're not giving up on December 2021 quite yet and we're trying to give people the December we promised them in the first place when a lot of them had to cancel but not through, necessarily, any fault of their own.”
The pub has offered three ways to participate in Christmas Part Two – customers can book for just drinks, though so far three quarters of bookings have been for food, either a two of three course set menu for between £23.95 and £27.95 per person or opt for the roof terrace buffet with the DJ at £12.95 a head.
So far, the event has sold 50% of its tickets with 70 guests booked in and Marshall is confident the event will sell out, however Christmas Part Two is not just a money-spinner for the pub but to show customers how much the industry cares.
What hospitality is all about
Marshall said: “It reminds people we're still thinking of them and we know lots of people missed out on their Christmas whether it be friends, family or work colleagues, which was very much the thought behind giving customers another chance to celebrate now and show people that we care, and that we don't forget.
“Let's not forget what hospitality is all about, a lot of people can get wrapped up in all the rigours of the problems we've all been dealing with and going through, but ultimately, if we stick to our guns and give people great times, then I think we'll be okay.”
