The scheme is open to key workers working on Christmas Day
Greene King is giving out 30,000 free Christmas meals on December 1 for key workers to enjoy an early Christmas dinner(Image: PinPep/Greene King)
A pub chain is giving Bristol key workers a free early Christmas dinner if they’re set to work on Christmas Day. Some 14 Greene King pubs in the Bristol area are taking part in the scheme, which aims to give those sacrificing their December 25 an alternative Christmas Day celebration.
According to figures from the pub chain, 1.1 million people are expected to work this Christmas Day, and so Greene King is hosting ‘The Big Christmas Shift’ on December 1. It promises to be an alternative Christmas Day ‘designed to thank the nation’s hardest working key workers’, including thousands across Bristol.
A total of 700 Greene King pubs across the nation will serve up a total of 30,000 free main meals for those working on the big day – from nurses and carers, to delivery drivers, emergency services staff and hospitality workers – giving them the chance to relax and enjoy a meal before the festive rush.
Bristol based shift workers can sign up via the Greene King website here until November 17. They can then claim their free meal at one of the following participating pubs on December 1:
- Wackum Inn (Bristol)
- Peacock (Clifton)
- Star (Congresbury)
- Wishing Well (Kingswood)
- Channings Hotel (Clifton)
- Farmhouse (Yate)
- Horseshoe (Downend)
- Mill House (Emersons Green)
- Royal Oak (Nailsea)
- Albion (Portishead)
- Swan Inn (Tockington)
- White Lion (Frenchay)
- Cross Hands Hotel (Old Sodbury)
- Shakespeare (Bristol)
It comes as the pub chain unveils a new advert in which it has enlisted Santa, the original festive shift worker, dressed in his original green costume, to announce the initiative that will benefit shift workers across the nation, from nurses and carers to chefs, servers, delivery drivers and emergency crews.
‘Celebrate people who don’t just work at Christmas, but who make Christmas work’
Andrew Gallagher, brand and marketing director at Greene King pubs, said: “We see first-hand the hard work that goes into making Christmas happen, including our very own team across the UK. While most of us are sitting down for Christmas lunch, millions of people are working hard to keep things running.
“The Big Christmas Shift is our way of saying thank you, giving those working on 25 December their own chance to celebrate, relax and enjoy a festive main meal before the Christmas rush kicks in. In the advert, Greene Santa pays tribute to shift workers of the modern day as he says, ‘it’s time to celebrate people who don’t just work at Christmas, but who make Christmas work’.”
Blue Light Card is proudly supporting the initiative, with 10,000 of the 30,000 meals reserved exclusively for its members. These can be claimed directly via the Blue Light Card website.
Chief marketing officer, Neil Caldicott said: “Millions of our members including NHS workers and emergency services, will be giving up their own Christmas Day to keep the nation running, and we’re passionate about making sure those people are celebrated. We’re thrilled to support Greene King as they offer their thanks and hope our members enjoy a moment to relax, enjoy a festive meal, and feel recognised for the vital work they do every day.”