An uncertain Christmas: discounted Christmas trees for when plans change

Christmas favourite Pines and Needles is offering discounts on its trees to ensure anyone who has changed their plans as a result of the new COVID-19 variant can still enjoy the big day.

Uncertainty over restrictions caused by the Omicron variant means many people are delaying or changing their plans for the festive season.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said there is the potential for more restrictions before Christmas in response to the new variant and there is uncertainty whether England would follow suit.

Dr Jenny Harries, the head of the UK Health Security Agency, said the Omicron variant was “probably the most significant threat since the start of the pandemic,” while Professor Tim Spector, who helped found the Zoe symptom-tracking app, has said Covid cases in London are accelerating more than was seen during the very first wave of the virus.

Veronika Kusak, director at Pines and Needles, said concerns about the new variant meant the trend for online shopping which accelerated at the start of the pandemic had continued.

“Our online sales have gone very well, but we have found that our stores have more trees left than normal. We believe that is down to a combination of people still shopping online and uncertainty over what this new strain of COVID-19 will bring with it in terms of further restrictions.

“We don’t want our trees to go to waste and we don’t want anyone who has decided, or been forced, to change their plans to miss out on having the best Christmas they can. Because of that, we have decided to discount the trees we have left in our stores by 35%.

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“Christmas isn’t Christmas without a tree and while we can’t make up for the disappointment of changing your plans at the last minute for the second year in a row, we can at least help people feel Christmasy wherever they are.”

Pines and Needles trees are grown on its plantation in The Highlands of Scotland and transported to the company’s 30 outdoor stores in central and outer London.