The Christmas season in hospitality is a time of high footfall, big spending, and a battle for attention. Every pub and bar will be decked out with tinsel, Mariah Carey playing on repeat, and happy hours will be ten a penny. But how do you stand out when you can’t adjust your menu or drink offerings? 

The key is creating an unforgettable in-pub experience and maximising social media engagement. Customers don’t just come for drinks — they come for atmosphere, entertainment, and something worth talking about. 

Here’s how to make your venue the most talked-about spot this festive season without touching a single item on the menu. 

9 Christmas marketing ideas for pubs

Your staff can’t spend December micromanaging marketing campaigns. These ideas are designed to be easy to implement, require minimal staff effort, and keep customers engaged for longer. 

1. The Secret Santa table challenge

Each table receives a sealed mystery envelope upon arrival, containing a simple festive challenge. 

Examples: 

• “Take a group selfie with a stranger and tag the pub online.” 
• “Start a Christmas carol singalong.” 
• “Convince the bartender to high-five you.” 

If they complete the challenge, they receive a small prize (Santa hat, branded keyring, free social media shout-out). 

This keeps customers engaged, generates shareable moments, and encourages interaction between groups. 

2. Christmas karaoke roulette

Instead of just playing background music, let the customers take control with a spontaneous Christmas karaoke night. Set up a song request jar where customers write down the name of a song and drop it in. 

The twist? When their song is picked, they have to sing it themselves — or nominate someone else at their table. 

For added fun, introduce a penalty wheel for those who refuse (e.g., reading a dramatic monologue from a Christmas film). 

3. The Christmas bingo challenge

Create Christmas Bingo Cards with fun things that will inevitably happen during the night. For example: 

• “A customer claims they’re ‘just having one’ but stays until closing.” 
• “Someone sings Fairytale of New York too loudly.” 
• “Someone spills their mulled wine.” 

Customers tick off as they go. First table to complete a row wins a small prize. This subtly encourages people to stay longer as they wait to tick off more boxes. 

4. Reindeer Roulette: The spin-to-win bar challenge

Set up a simple spin-the-wheel game at the bar, with fun festive outcomes.  

Examples: 

• “Wear a Santa hat for the next 10 minutes.” 
• “Start a Christmas conga line.” 
• “Tell a Christmas joke to the bartender.” 
• “Win a small festive prize.” 

Customers love interactive moments, and it makes ordering a drink an experience.  

It may also increase your reach on social media as people share user-generated content (UGC) on their profiles, showing off the fun, unique experience your pub is providing over the seasonal period! 

Social media ideas: Get people talking about your pub this Christmas

Social media is where customers share their experiences, and the right campaigns will ensure your venue is part of that conversation. Here are simple yet effective ideas that require no big budget or extra workload on staff. 

5. 12 days of Christmas challenges (Instagram Stories)

Each day for 12 days, post a simple interactive challenge on Instagram Stories. Customers must tag your pub to enter a daily prize draw.

Examples: 

• “Come in wearing an outrageous Christmas jumper and post a selfie.” 
• “Film yourself dramatically reading a Christmas cracker joke.” 
• “Convince a bartender to do a festive dance with you.” 

This generates a steady flow of user-generated content and increases social media visibility. It will likely also increase loyalty for local guests as who doesn’t want to return to a pub where they’ve already built a fun relationship with the staff?! 

6. The Christmas mugshot wall

Set up a photo booth corner with a festive backdrop and props. These are becoming more popular every day, giving people an extra excuse to share a selfie with the world. Wouldn’t it be great for the backdrop to be your pub? 

For example, customers could take a “Christmas Mugshot” holding a sign like: 

• “Caught eating out on a Monday night.” 
• “Wanted: For only taking the good Quality Street chocolates.” 
• “Guilty of singing Wham! too loud.” 

The best ones are posted on your social media channels each week, encouraging further engagement. And if it’s a hit – why not try it out for other occasions? St Paddy’s photo wall, anyone? 

7. The “Elf & Safety” TikTok Trend

Use the viral “Elf & Safety” theme to create short, funny videos in your pub.

Examples:

• A bartender stacking too many Christmas pint glasses? “Elf & Safety Violation!” 
• A customer struggling to carry a tray of drinks? “Elf & Safety Violation!” 
• A group of friends failing to coordinate a Christmas toast? “Elf & Safety Violation!” 

This is quick, easy content that plays into viral trends while promoting your venue. And for anyone who shouts out “Elf & Safety Violation!”, consider a small prize, like a free bar snack or tipple of their choosing.

8. The “Wrong Lyrics” Christmas challenge

Post a video of your staff singing famous Christmas songs but with incorrect lyrics. 

Examples: 

• “Santa Baby, slip a gift card under the tree for me.” 
• “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the crisps.” 

Customers must correct you in the comments, driving engagement. As another fun chance to surprise and delight your followers, one of the correct answers can be randomly chosen for a complimentary dish, drink, or gift card. 

9. #SecretSantaFails

Ask followers to submit their funniest Secret Santa fails for a chance to be featured on your Instagram Stories. 

Examples: 

• “I was gifted 5 packets of tomato ketchup from the pub. To be fair, I did use them!” 
• “I re-gifted a mug… only to find out the original giver was in my Secret Santa again.” 

This generates user participation and relatable, shareable content. 

Christmas marketing ideas for pubs: Summary

A great Christmas marketing strategy for hospitality isn’t just about decorations and background music — it’s about memorable, interactive experiences that keep customers engaged and encourage repeat visits. 

The best festive marketing ideas focus on: 

• In-site engagement: Ggames, challenges, and social interaction 
• Social media buzz: Campaigns that customers want to share 
• Repeat visits: Giving customers a reason to return 

With no menu changes required, these ideas turn your venue into a destination for festive fun, increasing dwell time, spend per customer, and word-of-mouth marketing. 

The goal isn’t just to have a busy December — it’s to create experiences that keep customers coming back in January and beyond. 

Now, go make your venue the most talked-about spot this Christmas. 

Find out more: Using the power of influencers for a Miller & Carter Christmas event 

Christmas marketing ideas for pubs: FAQs