A pub owner in Belfast who previously caused a stir after refusing to serve soft drinks has released his own humorous take on a touching Christmas video that went viral last year.
Bittles Bar has added its own Scrooge-like twist to a video that tugged on the heartstrings of the NI public last year.
Charlie’s Bar in Enniskillen made headlines across the world in November 2023 when it launched a Christmas video looking at the theme of loneliness during the festive season.
The pub posted the two-minute clip on their social media channels, where it was widely shared and viewed by millions of people around the world, as well as being picked up by media outlets in a number of different countries.
Now, Bittles Bar has produced an alternative Christmas video.
With a slowed down version of Silent Night played on the piano, the video shows an older man leaving his family home and making his way through Belfast to Bittles Bar.
The sleigh bells ring as he stares up at the famous red-bricked façade.
Inside the pub, as the camera slowly pans across – emotive music still playing – a notice appears: “We don’t do half pints, we don’t do Coke & we don’t do Xmas. You’re gonna have to go somewhere else.”
The punter makes his way in, walking stick in hand and is asked: “What are you having today sir?”
In response, he says: “I’m just having a Coke.”
Owner John Bittles is aghast telling him he’ll take a pint or a whiskey like everybody else and if he doesn’t, “you’re out the door”.
He then informs the man he’s barred causing another customer to interject and insist he honour the man’s request for a soft drink.
An animated Mr Bittles says: “We don’t do Coke. We don’t do Christmas. This isn’t Charlie’s Bar, this is Bittles Bar. See you, ye need to drink that pint and get out!”
The two men are sent on their merry way as a stripped-back version of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ draws the festive video to a close.