A city pub hopes to "cheer everyone up" in the local area with free mince pies at its "giant" Christmas tree lights switch-on.

The Brewery Tap in NR3 is getting in the festive spirit on December 1, when its five-metre Nordic fir tree shrouded in more than 4,000 bulbs will be illuminated for the first time. 

The event hopes to bring the local community together, and rumour has it Father Christmas may also be attending to perform the switch-on honours.

Eastern Daily Press: The Brewery Tap in Lawson Road, Norwich, hopes to bring festive cheer to the local area this yearThe Brewery Tap in Lawson Road, Norwich, hopes to bring festive cheer to the local area this year (Image: The Brewery Tap)

Landlord Mark White said: "With all the dreadful news this year, we really wanted to do something big to cheer everyone up.

"We have got our hands on the biggest Christmas tree we could find, a giant Nordic fir five metres high, and we will decorate it with loads of lights to be a beacon of fun and joy for the local community.

"There will be a shed-load of free mince pies, a mulled wine stand and DJs playing classic festive hits.

"It is yet to be confirmed but we are hoping to arrange a visit from the man himself, Father Christmas, to do the honours and switch the lights on."

Eastern Daily Press: Motherchip has launched a new festive menu with dishes such as Christmas-spiced barbecue beef, Christmas-spiced barbecue jackfruit and chickpea curry with onion and cauliflower bhajisMotherchip has launched a new festive menu with dishes such as Christmas-spiced barbecue beef, Christmas-spiced barbecue jackfruit and chickpea curry with onion and cauliflower bhajis (Image: Motherchip)

The event comes shortly after the launch of a new menu by resident kitchen Motherchip, offering loaded chips topped with an array of festive flavours.

This year's festive toppings are hog roast, Christmas-spiced barbecue beef, Christmas-spiced barbecue jackfruit and chickpea curry with onion and cauliflower bhajis.

The regular menu will be offered too, including burgers and the newly-launched tornado potatoes.

Eastern Daily Press: There are lots of new dishes to try this year at Motherchip at the Brewery Tap in NorwichThere are lots of new dishes to try this year at Motherchip at the Brewery Tap in Norwich (Image: Motherchip)

The new menu has reportedly gone down well with customers since its launch last week and the venue sold out of most of its offerings.

Earlier this year, the pub pledged to be a place for people to "escape trouble and woes" and be a centre of fun for the area.

Mr White added: "We've had a great couple of months and recently had a successful dark beer festival.

"People came from all over to try a range of one-off beers. It was really busy and bustling and we were really chuffed."