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Is this the Christmas advert of the year?
An advert for a Northern Irish pub could rival the popular John Lewis Christmas advert after it went viral on social media this week.
The advert, which highlights how pubs can combat loneliness, has already racked up millions of views across TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, pulling at the heartstrings of viewers by illustrating how crucial social interaction becomes when living a solitary life.
In what has been referred to as “the Christmas advert of the year” the video for the Enniskillen pub Charlie’s features the W.B. Yeats quote: “There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.”
Speaking to the drinks business, Des O’Flanagan, co-founder of PubAid, the industry voice for pubs and their positive contribution to society, said: “The huge response to this trending Christmas advert serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact local pubs have on our communities. It reflects an unwavering sense of civic pride and recognition of the influential role played by our local pubs.
Charlie’s Bar manager Una Burns, told reporters that the team wanted to create a festive advert that would “resonate with people” and explained how “it became apparent over the years that Christmas can be a really lonely, tough time for some people” reiterating the crucial role pubs play in bringing people together.
Burns added that “people have been comparing it to the John Lewis advert, which we could have never expected – that’s brilliant”.
In referencing the advert in its comments when shared online, viewers have noted its warmth and how it is an excellent example of how pubs bind communities and provide a unifying social space for people of different backgrounds and ages who would otherwise not always find reasons to interact.
In the comments, department store John Lewis also tipped its cap to the advert, leading the comment: “We’re not crying, you are Merry Christmas ❤️.”
The advert also features the song ‘People help the people’ by Birdy and was filmed and edited by @aoifeteague1.
O’Flanagan told db: “While this advert particularly resonates during the festive season, it serves as a reminder that pubs continue to be the heart and family for many throughout the year in local communities. A pub is for life, not just for Christmas.”
Watch the advert here:
@charliesbarenniskillen ‘There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met’ (W. B. Yeats) 💫 Filming & Editing: @aoifeteague1 #christmasad #christmasadvert #christmasadvert2023 #christmasadvert23 #christmasadvertisement #christmas2023 #northernireland #northernirelandtiktok #northernirelandfyp #irishbar #irishpub #christmaspub