Outcry as Christmas tree in UK seaside hotspot branded ‘worst in the UK’
Locals dubbed the festive installation a "outrageous" and a "laughing stock".
Residents in a UK seaside city have slammed a Christmas tree in their local shopping centre as the "worst in the UK". The unconventional festive decoration in Churchill Square, Brighton, hasn't gone down well with shoppers unhappy that the retail complex swapped a green fir tree for descending suspended rings decked out with reindeer and tree cut-outs. Writing in the Brighton People Facebook group, one shopper slammed the 100-foot installation as "tacky" while another joked: "That's taking 'minimalist' to a whole new level."
Others suggested it ranked among the worst Christmas decorations in the UK, with one person writing: "Many cities and towns put ours to shame." Churchill Square can't seem to catch a break, after also being lambasted for its even more unusual festive display in 2023, which saw large shards of green glass hung from the building's ceiling. One resident summed up local attitudes to the arty decor: "Abstract, post-modern, dull."
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Some were relieved that this year's tree was "better than the weird glass thing" but others called for the shopping centre, which is owned by IKEA's parent company Ingka, to keep things simple.
"They call that a Christmas tree, that's a joke is what it is," one person said. Others declared it "arty farty", "outrageous" and "dreadful".
"That's the saddest Christmas tree I have ever seen," another said. "What happened to Brighton being all colourful and bright..."
A handful of people insisted that this year's tree was "better in person", however, and suggested that the shopping centre had splashed out on a larger-scale lights display alongside the centrpiece.
"I actually think Churchill Square has done a great job compared to the last few years!" one said. "This is only part of the decorations, the centre looks much more festive and it feels more Christmassy than it has for a while!"
And others poked fun at the outraged response to the installation, with one person writing: "I think they should leave the decorations up all year round, then people have something to whinge about for 12 months. Everyone wins."
Churchill Square Shopping Centre has been contacted for comment.
