'I visited the Cambridge pub obsessed with Christmas to try their new festive pizza'

I love Christmas. Even though the real meaning behind Christmas has been lost over the years and swallowed up by capitalism, it is still my favourite holiday.

However, starting the festive celebrations in the middle of October is a little excessive even for me. The Empress pub on Thoday Street in Cambridge kicks off the holiday season two months before the big day and has gained the attention of locals thanks to their verging on amount of decorations and new Christmas pizzas.

Having a birthday at the beginning of December means I usually hold off on putting my Christmas decorations up until the weekend after. For this year, I decided to head down to the pub and try out their Festive Pigs pizza to see if I could get into a Christmassy mood early.

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It was hard to miss The Empress when I was walking down the side street, as it was lit up like the Star of Bethlehem. The whole outside of the pub was painted with a Christmas mural featuring Santa and a snowman and of course, rows and rows of Christmas lights.

As soon as I stepped through the small side door leading into the pub, I was greeted with a comforting warmth and the sight of hundreds of baubles, layers of tinsel, and more lights. The ugly Christmas jumpers hanging from every wall and Santa toys dotted around further added to the festive feel.

After my eyes had adjusted to the winter wonderland, I went over to the bar to order my Festive Pigs pizza, which costs £14. The bar staff mentioned they were having a few issues in the kitchen, which meant there might be a bit of a wait for my pizza.

I decided to find a little corner in the pub to settle down in and read my book to pass the time, which was made harder by the constant flashing lights around me. Despite the kitchen difficulties, it wasn't too long before I had a sizable pizza presented to me.

The pub's Christmas pizza is topped with a cranberry sauce instead of your usual tomato base along with chunks of brie, stuffing, sausage, thyme, and bacon. There is also a vegetarian option that just has brie, rocket, and a balsamic glaze on it.

I'm not a fan of cranberry sauce on a Christmas dinner, as I believe sweet and savoury food should not be mixed under any circumstances. However, after taking one bite of the pizza, I finally understood why people love it so much.

The faint sweetness of the cranberry complemented the sausage and bacon wonderfully. The most enjoyable bites were those topped with brie, which surprisingly did not overpower the other toppings but instead allowed them blend together.

The base of the pizza was thin and had a nice char to it on the crust. The pizza had been cooked in their pizza oven and you can watch all of the pizza-making action if you sit in the pub's lounge area.

I wasn't able to finish the whole pizza, as the cranberry sauce became slightly overwhelming after a few slices. However, it was impossible to not feel more prepared for Christmas when eating a festive pizza in an illuminated grotto.

The Empress pub seems worth a trip over the festive period, even if it is just for a pint or two, but the Festive Pigs pizza is a fun addition to the already jolly building. The Christmassy atmosphere in the pub engulfs you and I'm sure my heart grew three sizes after paying a visit.