The Culcheth Arms gave Culcheth’s younger residents a properly sweet Halloween activity, hosting a cupcake-decorating session where budding bakers could get stuck into creating their own spooky designs.
According to the pub, the event was full of smiles, laughter and, crucially, cupcakes worthy of being eaten rather than merely admired on a phone screen. Children proudly showed off their creations, while the adults presumably faced the familiar challenge of keeping frosting off small sleeves, tables and at least one innocent chair.
It is easy to be cynical about organised seasonal activities, especially when Halloween can sometimes feel like a month-long advert for plastic tat. But this sounds like exactly the sort of simple, community-minded event that works: youngsters making something themselves, families spending time together, and a local pub acting like a genuine village hub rather than just somewhere to park up for Sunday lunch.
The Culcheth Arms said it enjoyed bringing people together for these “special little moments”, and fair play, that is rather nicer than another afternoon spent negotiating supermarket aisles full of novelty skeletons.
With Halloween decorations barely packed away, the pub is already eyeing Christmas. Festive sessions are planned for December 12 and 13, with events taking place at 12.30pm and 2pm on both days. Culcheth clearly has no intention of letting a perfectly good icing bag rest.