The brilliant reason Northumberland pub is refusing to take down its Christmas tree

You'd think that every household across the North East had put away its Christmas Tree by now, but one pub in Northumberland has still got its festive centrepiece on proud display - and it's for a brilliant reason.

The Half Moon Inn in Stakeford will be keeping things festive for a little longer, in fact, for the whole of 2023.

Even though the tree is staying up for 12 months, the pub will be shedding its Christmas baubles and tinsel for more festive designs each season. Next up is Burns Night and then Easter will be fast approaching.

The stunt isn't just for fun either, with money being raised to help The Half Moon Inn put a potentially life-saving defibrillator in place near the pub.

Robbie Morgan, the manager of The Half Moon Inn said: “This year we will be keeping our tree up through the whole year. Why? To raise money for a life-saving defibrillator for the community.

“With the closest defibrillator being an 8-minute walk away from The Half Moon, another defibrillator in our community can only be a positive. Every minute counts in an emergency and if disaster strikes, our community defibrillator may be the closest to you or your loved ones.”

The community and locals of the pub are known for their fundraising efforts, having come together at the end of 2022 for the charity Christmas For All. Robbie said: “We were delivered about 20 Christmas tree tags from the local charity Christmas For All before Christmas. Tags had a Christmas present suggestion from a local child who will go without or with very little on Christmas Day.

"All the tags got taken within hours of them going on the tree. Our phenomenal customers just kept the gifts coming despite the suggestion tags being all gone.”

You can donate to the pub’s JustGiving page here.