Is This London’s Most Christmassy Pub?

Christmas lights are popping up all over the streets of London, heralding the start of the festive season. But for some city dwellers, the most anticipated switch-on is that of The Churchill Arms, the Kensington pub renowned for its magical Christmas light display. The moment came on Friday evening (15 November), attracting crowds from far and wide to see one of London’s most famous pubs enter festive mode.

The Churchill Arms Has Switched On Its Christmas Lights

Perched on the corner of Kensington Church Street, The Churchill Arms is one of the city’s prettiest pubs, with a storied history to boot. Built in 1750, it was often frequented by Winston Churchill’s grandparents, leading to the naming of the pub after World War 2. Churchill memorabilia lines the walls, while the ceilings are covered in potted plants.

As well as its historic roots, The Churchill Arms is known for its floral facade – which apparently costs the venue £25,000 a year. It’s also one of the few pubs which can claim to be a Chelsea Flower Show winner.

 

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Come Christmas time, the exterior gets a festive makeover, with trees, glowing lights and seasonal foliage aplenty. This year’s spectacle includes 50 Christmas trees and more than 300,000 LED lights – plus look out for the ‘Letters to Santa’ box, perched by the entrance. Getting the decorations up is no mean feat, and takes around a month to complete, with all the team getting involved. 

Inside is suitably cosy, with festive decor aplenty. Breaking the stereotype of classic pub grub, the menu features an array of Thai dishes, from fiery noodles to green curries, alongside ales, craft beers, wines and spirits.

Keen to see it in real life? The Christmas light display is switched on each day at 5pm until close.

VISIT:

The Churchill Arms, 119 Kensington Church Street W8 7LN, churchillarmskensington.co.uk