I run Britain’s most festive pub with 55 trees & £6 pints… we face near-disaster every year but it’s worth it
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BRITAIN'S most festive pub's landlord has told how he comes inches from disaster every year. The Churchill Arms in Kensington spends thousands of pounds transforming the boozer into a magical grotto, complete with glittering champagne bottle sculptures and a towering 16-foot tree.
![[The pubs Christmas display features 55 Christmas trees]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image00014.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
But every year James waits with bated breath for the hundreds of lights to turn on. He told The Sun: “It’s not easy, we put a lot of planning and money into it, our contractors work very hard and start as early as 4am to avoid traffic.”. “We’ve even had a few scares, where we’re all ready to go and the lights stop working or something goes horribly wrong.".
![[Pub manager James Keogh claims its 'the most festive pub in London']](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image3.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
The pub, in Notting Hill, has become a must-visit destination during the holidays, with its over-the-top decorations drawing crowds from across the globe. Over the years, the pub has hosted famous faces like Amanda Holden, Harrison Ford, and the Game of Thrones cast, who’ve all stopped by for a drink.
![[Amanda Holden is one of the pub's famous punters]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/amanda-holden-ashley-roberts-lead-950696241.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
The pub's manager, James Keogh said: “We’ve had had football stars, Jamie Redknapp, the entire Australian rugby team, famous actors and even the Game of Thrones cast stop by. "Amanda Holden posted about how magical it was. "We even get wedding parties coming here just to take photos in front of our display.”.
![[James, 60, says The Churchill arms begins planning for Christmas in summer]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image8.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
Managing the transformation is 60-year-old James, who has run the pub since 1997. He starts planning for Christmas as early as summer. James said: “We love Christmas, we actually start planning our decorations in summer. “It takes five to six weeks just to set up, with contractors working from 4 a.m.
![[The pub keeps a 'letters to Santa' box where they send off children's letters at the local post office]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image4.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
