Christmas Eve – pub’s big night out

Nearly three in four Irish people will visit a pub this Christmas, with the majority voting Christmas Eve as their favourite ‘night out’ over the festive period, according to an online poll conducted by the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.

The poll of over 6,000 Irish Twitter users between the 16^th and 19^th December this year reveals Christmas Eve (45% of the vote) as the most popular time to visit the pub, with St Stephen’s Day (43%) our second favourite night out.

Over the Christmas period over 73% of Irish people will visit the pub.

“As our poll highlights, visiting the local pub to meet family and friends is an essential part of Christmas,” pointed out VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben, “Socialising in the warm, convivial and safe atmosphere offered by your local publican is a great way to spend some time during the festive period.”

During 2017 the VFI sponsored Roddy Doyle’s play Two Pints as it performed in pubs around the country. The play highlighted the importance of the pub as a place to meet and talk in the local community.

“Now more than ever, local communities rely on the pub as a place to gather together,”’ added Padraig Cribben “As post offices and banks close more branches, the pub acts as a vital ‘third space’ away from home and work to meet and talk.”