2nd Jul 2026
Community Hero Award: Celebrating Leonie of The Steamboat, Lossiemouth
For Ciara, the seasonal decorations at The Hop Pole are about much more than creating an impressive display. While the Halloween and Christmas transformations have become a talking point in the local community, it is the enjoyment they bring to others that makes all the effort worthwhile.
“We get a lot of people coming in. They bring their kids in to look, and they stay and have a drink,” Ciara explains.
The displays have become something of a local attraction, encouraging people to visit specifically to see the decorations for themselves. What begins as a seasonal tradition has grown into a way of bringing more people through the doors, creating a welcoming atmosphere and giving families another reason to visit their local pub.
“Everyone talks about it, saying, ‘You need to go to The Hop Pole and see the decorations.’ I went to my kids’ school last week and a woman called me aside and said, ‘Never in my life have I seen anything like that!’” Ciara recalls.
It is clear that the excitement surrounding the displays extends well beyond the pub itself. The decorations have become part of the local conversation, with word of mouth helping to spread the magic and encourage even more people to come along.
But for Ciara, the enjoyment does not stop at the decorations. Asked whether Halloween or Christmas is he favourite, she says she loves both, with each season bringing its own opportunities to make people feel welcome.
“At Christmas, we do a kids’ party. On Christmas Day, we open the back door for a few hours for the old people and feed them all, because otherwise they would be on their own. They’re the ones in the day time that put money behind the bar, so its nice to give back to them”
And the celebrations do not stop at Christmas. New Year’s Eve is another highlight, with Ciara and the team making sure the occasion goes off with a bang.
“New Year’s Eve, we do party cannons. We have about 100 of the big ones and 50 of the smaller ones, and you cannot see the floor! Everyone loves it. We do it every year.”
It is this enthusiasm for going all out, year after year, that has helped make seasonal celebrations such a recognisable part of life at The Hop Pole.
Ciara has been at the helm of The Hop Pole for 13 years, but her connection with the pub began before she took it on herself. Having worked there previously, she already knew the business and the people who made it what it was.
When the previous tenant, who was also from Ireland, decided to leave, Ciara began thinking about what would happen next.
“If he leaves, where am I going to go?” she remembers thinking.
Having already managing the run the pub for a couple of years, Ciara approached the previous BDM to ask whether she could take it on. Following a few conversations, the decision was made, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Thirteen years later, Ciara continues to make The Hop Pole a place where people can come together, celebrate and feel part of the community. Her seasonal displays may draw people in, but it is the care behind them, the traditions she has built and the welcome she offers that help keep people coming back.