Newton pub reuses 77-year-old Christmas decorations since 1962

A pub has been reusing the same 77-year-old Christmas decorations in its public bar for more than 60 years.

Landlord David Short, 84, first put up the crepe paper streamers and paper lanterns in the Queen's Head, Newton, Cambridgeshire, in 1962.

His son Rob Short, who took over the pub 10 years ago, said his father made the ribbons when he was about seven.

"It's amazing they survived as the pub has had some quite raucous evenings over the years," he said.

"But the thing about them is you can mend them quite easily and put them back up again."

Mr Short, 50, is the third generation of his family to run the Queen's Head.

"At Christmas, we're known for our festivities and the decorations are a big part of that," he said.

"I think people like them because they're traditional and I'm sure they wouldn't fit into a lot of places, but because the pub is very traditional, it fits into the whole ethos of the place."

Mr Short's father puts the yellow, red and green ribbons up each year because he "is the only one to know how to put them up, it's a bit of a technique - I have been learning a little".

While it can take his regulars "a while to notice they're up, it's almost part of the pub", visitors do notice them because "you just don't get to see decorations like that any more".

The streamers are carefully rolled up and stored away in a cupboard every year.

Mr Short said: "It's going back to the make-do-and-mend generation, I suppose, and that's what we should all be doing, reusing things - so it's quite relevant to these days as well."

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830