Nationwide bar and restaurant introduces "prize-filled" electronic Christmas crackers

Nationally operating bar and restaurant The Botanist announced it is ditching traditional Christmas crackers in favour of an electronic alternative, so as to promote both hygiene and sustainability.

As was highlighted in the company’s announcement, every year, an average of 40m traditional, paper Christmas crackers are discarded.

Moreover, the prizes to be featured in the company’s new initiative are less than traditional: “You won’t find mini rulers and nail files, instead try Hanging Kebabs, city breaks and a holiday to Italy”.

Guests dining on The Botanist’s festive set menu between 17 November and 24 December will receive an eCracker and, as with a traditional cracker, two players unite to compete and pull the cracker first to be crowned the winner.

The eCracker is also partnered with Shelter to help raise awareness and money to support those in need. So far, The Botanist eCracker has raised almost £2.5k in donations to Shelter as well as wider activity in venues to raise money for many local charities across the country.

Stephanie Lloyd, Head of Digital at The Botanist said: “Getting together is one of our much-loved Christmas traditions that we really missed being part of last year. We wanted to adapt and jump ahead of the digital curve to bring our guests a sustainable and hygienic contactless way to still enjoy all the fun of a cracker but with a guilt-free social conscience.

“We’re really excited to see our guests enjoying the eCracker and treating them to one of over 75,000 digital prizes available to be won.”