A south Manchester pub has been decorated in Christmas decorations - with a twist.
The Union, on Stockport Road in Levenshulme, has Christmas trees, tinsel and festive wreaths - but they’re all inspired by Halloween rather than the festive season itself.
Bar manager Mary Quigley says the pub is always decorated to celebrate something but, this year, she decided to dress it up in spooktacular style with Halloween-themed displays, and signs.
“We always decorate the place up for each occasion,” Mary tells the Manchester Evening News.
“But the regulars were really impressed with what we did with Halloween this year.
“After Halloween, they told me they didn’t want us to take the decorations down and it gave me an idea for what we could do for Christmas.”
Inspired by her favourite Christmas film The Nightmare Before Christmas, guests can ‘enter if they dare’ and share a pint alongside creepy clowns, dreadful dolls, and a grumpy Grinch, all sitting alongside Jack Skellington and Sally, of course.
“It’s different, isn’t it,” Mary laughs.
“There’s enough pubs on the road that do your traditional stuff and we just thought we’d do something a little fun.
"I can guarantee you won’t find another bar like this.”
Mary and her five sisters all work within the Levenshulme Pub Company, and the bar manager says all her siblings have been involved.
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“Pretty much everything you see has been handmade,” Mary added.
“I’ve been making signs, posters, and decorations since August, and my sisters have all helped out too.
“The upstairs of the pub is like Granada Studios now, with all kinds of props and costumes.”
The pub has gained a reputation in the local area for its outlandish decorating, and Mary says this means she has to go bigger and better each year.
“The people love it, they’ve come to expect it.
“We’ve even had the regulars get involved. One of the customers made us a wooden coffin for Halloween and that’s taken pride of place in the pub now.”
Mary says that people come to visit the pub specifically to see how it has been decorated, and it’s a real talking point.
“It sparks a conversation, doesn’t it?,” she added.
“We like to do things differently here and people have responded really well to it. There’s always someone trying to get a selfie with one of the elves or with the Grinch.”
Mary has said she has already started work on her plans for Valentine’s but it’s Halloween that she enjoys the most.
“I absolutely love Halloween,” Mary laughs.
“I’ve always said if I ever won the lottery, I’d buy a pub, call it Scary Mary’s and celebrate Halloween every day.”
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