There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that the UK loves Christmas. Whether you’re a festive fanatic or you’d prefer if December could just speed on by, you can’t deny that the country lights up when Santa Claus comes to town. From the twinkling lights to the familiar jingle of Christmas music, the festivities are everywhere at this time of year, including in your local pub. Love or hate them, Christmas songs are the lifeblood of the season and quite the topic of discussion! Everyone has their favourite, but how do your favourites line up with the rest of the UK? 

Here at HireJukebox, we’ve pulled together a list of the UK’s top 10 favourites – while the order can change, particularly with the top 3, why not include some of these in your Christmas pub jukebox playlist?

10. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee

Originally recorded back in 1958 when Brenda Lee was just 13, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree has become one of the UK’s all-time favourite classic Christmas songs, annually hitting some of the top spots in the festive charts. With over 60 years in our hearts and ears, this is a song that we’re happy to keep playing this year.

9. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard

Did you know that Wizzard’s festive hit ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ was recorded in the height of summer with the air conditioning knocked up to full? It was thought to be a way of helping the band members feel like they were in the wintry landscape they were singing about. Despite only reaching number four when it was first released, it is another classic hit that always makes its way into our hearts each festive season. It has charted every year since its release! 

8. Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande

While ‘Santa Tell Me’ isn’t exactly a classic, it’s certainly made its way up through the charts since it’s release in 2014 to become a staple Christmas hit on modern playlists. The sweet jingle bells and Ariana Grande’s plea for Santa tell me if you’re really there and Santa tell me if he really cares make for a catchy and relatable song along the same kind of lines as All I Want For Christmas Is You. 

7. Step Into Christmas – Elton John

Did you know that Step Into Christmas, in all it’s catchy glory, only actually reached number 24 when it was first released in 1973? It’s since only peaked at number 11 in the official charts back in 2017, but is still one of the UK’s most-played and much-loved songs for Christmas. It’s also one of Elton John’s most beloved hits for good reason!

6. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Micheal Buble

We all know Christmas is right around the corner with Micheal Buble comes out of hibernation and treats us to his smooth, unique voice and a few classic Christmas hits. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas is a festive classic but certainly got its resurgence when Buble recorded his own version for his Christmas album and released the song as a single in November 2012.

5. Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid

Band Aid and their charity-focused hit Do They Know It’s Christmas is a must-have for any Christmas playlist. Band Aid was effectively a charity supergroup, offering everyone from Boy George, to George Micheal and more. It was the highest-selling song ever until 1997 when it was overtaken, but the original and the re-recordings over the years have held their own in the charts each year.

4. Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens

A catchy beat and upbeat lyrics make Merry Christmas Everyone the perfect Christmas Party anthem and we are definitely avid believers that it has well and truly earned its place as one of the top five festive hits in the UK. Shakin’ Stevens definitely played his cards right with this cheesy hit too, releasing it later than initially planned in 1984 to avoid competing with Band Aid and Wham! for Christmas number one in previous years.

3. Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues ft. Kirsty Maccoll 

The top three songs on our list are some of the closest when it comes to popularity. They are all loved nearly and dearly and Fairytale of New York is no doubt one of the best. Whether its the relentlessly sing-along-worthy tune or simply because it’s a folk-esque song that gets stuck in your head, Fairytale of New York has a well-deserved place as one of the UK’s top three favourites.

2. Last Christmas – Wham!

It’s certainly not the most cheerful of Christmas hits, but Wham!’s last Christmas is undoubtedly one of the UK’s most played and much-loved. Maybe it’s the relaxing tune or maybe too many of us are suffering from broken hearts at Christmas, but Last Christmas is a must-have on your pub playlist regardless. It never actually reached a chart-topping number one at the time, competing with Band Aid for the top spot. It finally got it’s time in 2021 however.

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

This 1994 hit has truly taken the charts by storm and become a classic that charts every single year. This song is easily Mariah Carey’s biggest-selling international hit, with over 16 million copies sold globally. It’s catchy, it’s up-beat and it gets you moving and tapping your foot even if you’re putting off the Christmas cheer until the last minute! 

Well, there you have it – the UK’s top 10 Christmas hits. While this chart changes every year and everyone has their own favourites, these songs are some of the most staple choices for a solid Christmas playlist. Want more information about setting up your own Christmas playlist on your digital jukebox from HireJukebox? We’re on hand to help. Get in touch with a member of our team, today.