Mad Friday mayhem as hoards of Christmas revellers pack out pubs & don Santa Claus outfits on booziest night of the year
WITH just four days to go until the big day, Brits have started to get into the Christmas spirit.
Last night, pubs and bars across the country were filled with work Christmas parties and friends' gatherings for the booziest day of the year, which has been branded 'Mad Friday'.
Festive knitwear and sparkles were in full swing as revellers hit the town.
One duo was dressed up as The Grinch and Santa in Soho, which has long been a favourite spot for Christmas drinks for Londoners.
Despite the chilly weather, many chose to ditch the coats so not to distract from their incredible outfits.
Extra security and police officers were deployed to monitor the tinsel-tasting revellers and ensure that the parties stayed peaceful.
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Mad Friday is a nickname given to the last Friday before Christmas.
It is the most popular night for work Christmas parties, but it's also become a notorious day for booze-fuelled tensions to soar.
In December 2013, Greater Manchester Police actually used the hashtag #MadMancFriday to expose some of the embarrassing acts revellers would do on the day.
It is also known as Builders' Friday, as it's the last day of work for many construction workers.
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Despite the chaotic nature of the night, the influx of boozers came as a relief to the struggling restaurants, bars and pubs across the country.
New figures predict that 300 million pints could be poured in December, which will give the economy a £3.3billion boost.
However, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have wanted that most pubs only make 12p profit per pint.
Many food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns announced it would be shutting down 43 of its stores this year.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, also shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
