THE team at the Prince Albert in Stroud arranged a road closure to ensure the return of a popular Christmas event.

Lotte and Miles Lyster Connolly welcomed back their Unusual Carol Singers for the 21st year.

In a bumper edition of the popular annual event, the pub was granted a road closure for the top of Walkley Hill, to allow even more people to gather in a Covid secure way to join in the free festivities between 12noon and 3pm on Sunday, December 12.

Starting out in 2000, a small group of the Prince Albert regulars ‘drinkers with a singing problem’ started up the Prince Albert Carol Consortium (PACC) to bring carols with a difference, to the singing and drinking enthusiasts of Rodborough.

Albert landlady Lotte Lyster Connolly said: "The whole day could not have gone better - we had about 250 people singing in the street, smiling , catching up and feeling safe.

"The Prince Albert Carol Consort are such a jolly bunch, and the carols that they have sung here over the last twenty years have become firm favourites with all who come and join in every year.

"We will definitely print out more song sheets for next year's event, which we are already planning. We hope this will become an annual tradition. 

"The day was made even better by having a panto straight afterwards, written by Robbie Humphries of Stroud's 'Humphries and Begg' clothing store, so we literally catered for everyone on Sunday, from two week old babies to a 93 year old.

"Everyone was just so happy, laughing and chatting.

"The mulled wine was flowing and a lot of pizza got eaten.

"It's beginning to feel like Christmas, just slightly different!"

Many thanks to photographers Fred Chance and Bill Hicks.