Summertime festive celebrations

August 5, 2010

The Middleton Archer pub in Manchester hosted a Christmas party with a difference this year – in August.

Father Christmas even turned up to the event to put a smile on the hundreds that were busy celebrating the festive season a few months early.

It is the 22nd year that pub landlady Liz Cumming has held the celebrations, which allows guests to enjoy a traditional turkey lunch while pulling crackers and watching some Christmas themed entertainment. The pub had been decorated with tinsel and other yuletide trimmings. Children even enjoyed a bouncy castle.

Liz said: "It was a superb day. Everyone was so happy and the children didn't want to leave at the end they were enjoying themselves so much."

Liz held her first summertime Christmas celebration 22 years when she ran a pub in Preston.
"When we were at the Lane End in Preston there was a girl who had been in hospital all over the Christmas," added Liz.

"When she came out in July we asked what we could do for and hit upon the idea of having a Christmas weekend for her. The idea went down really well and stuck," she added.

Liz is now preparing for next year's summer Christmas celebrations – as well the more traditional December date.