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Greene King to serve 30,000 free meals to Christmas Day shift workers

  • Greene King pubs is raising the spirits of the nation’s hardest workers this festive season, hosting ‘The Big Christmas Shift’ across 700 pubs, giving away 30,000 meals on Monday, 1 December
  • The nationwide event gives those who will be working on Christmas Day their own moment to relax and enjoy all the trimmings ahead of the festive rush.
  • The campaign launches alongside a brand-new Christmas advert in which Santa, the original shift worker, returns to his original green costume symbolising tradition, care, and community before red became the norm to honour the 1.1 million shift workers who will pull a shift on 25 December 
  • Watch Greene King pubs Christmas advert here
  • The initiative is supported by Blue Light Card, offering 10,000 of the 30,000 meals exclusively to its members

Greene Santa stars in Greene King’s new Christmas advert, offering thousands of meals to those working shifts on Christmas Day, by hosting an alternative celebration on December 1st, The Big Christmas Shift.

Thousands of free main meals will be served to Brits set to work on Christmas Day as Greene King pubs launches an alternative celebration nationwide, The Big Christmas Shift, on 1 December.    
The pub company has enlisted Santa, the original festive shift worker, dressed in his original green costume, to announce the initiative that will benefit shift workers across the nation, from nurses and carers to chefs, servers, delivery drivers and emergency crews. 

The initiative comes as research from Greene King pubs reveals what shift workers feel they miss most when working on Christmas Day, with 43% saying it's spending time with family, 21% missing the tradition of opening presents together, and 22% longing for festive TV.

The study of 1,000 adults who have worked on Christmas Day in the past found that more than half (53%) feel under-appreciated for keeping essential services going on the big day.

The pub company has announced “The Big Christmas Shift” in a brand-new Christmas advert that is filmed and is set in Bury St Edmunds where the brewery has been crafting beers since 1799.

Greene King pubs has taken Santa back to his original green outfit, which he is said to have worn throughout the 17th and 18th century, only becoming consistently red in the last 100 years.

Andrew Gallagher, Brand and Marketing Director at Greene King pubs, said: “We see first-hand the hard work that goes into making Christmas happen, including our very own team across the UK. While most of us are sitting down for Christmas lunch, millions of people are working hard to keep things running. The Big Christmas Shift is our way of saying thank you, giving those working on 25 December their own chance to celebrate, relax and enjoy a festive main meal before the Christmas rush kicks in. In the advert, Greene Santa pays tribute to shift workers of the modern day as he says, “it’s time to celebrate people who don’t just work at Christmas, but who make Christmas work.”

The brand hopes to show that Christmas magic isn’t about the date on the calendar—it’s about people, warmth, and community. That’s why Greene King is offering free main meals to thousands of shift workers due to work on Christmas Day. Eligible workers can sign up for their festive meal at participating pubs via https://www.greeneking.co.uk/christmas/big-christmas-shift 

Blue Light Card is proudly supporting the initiative, with 10,000 of the 30,000 meals reserved exclusively for its members. These can be claimed directly via the Blue Light Card website. 
Chief Marketing Officer, Neil Caldicott said: " Millions of our members including NHS workers and emergency services, will be giving up their own Christmas Day to keep the nation running, and we’re passionate about making sure those people are celebrated. We’re thrilled to support Greene King as they offer their thanks and hope our members enjoy a moment to relax, enjoy a festive meal, and feel recognised for the vital work they do every day."

*Shift workers have until 17 November to sign up for the alternative Christmas celebration on Monday, 1 December 2025.