The festive season can be hectic, but spending an hour in a London pub with Nicola Coughlan, nursing a Guinness, proved to be the perfect antidote. The *Bridgerton* star, hosting a pub quiz at the rebranded Kate Spade Arms, generously shared her unique and charming holiday traditions, solidifying her status as a true festive icon.
Coughlan’s approach to entertaining is refreshingly relatable and incredibly thoughtful. Her home boasts a dedicated drinks fridge – a necessity, she insists, for ensuring everyone’s preferred beverage is readily chilled during gatherings. This meticulously stocked fridge caters to all tastes, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, with champagne always on hand. Her generosity extends beyond her own home; if she’s a guest, expect a bottle of bubbly in her bag. “I’ll never go to someone’s house empty-handed,” she declares. “Never! It’s rude – rude!” When she’s not enjoying a pint of Guinness, her drink of choice is a margarita.
Her gift-giving is equally creative and considerate. One memorable gift involved her friend Camilla’s tweet requesting a ham-bearing Megan from *Love Island*. Coughlan delivered, creating a truly unique and personalized present. “It took some serious planning,” she laughs.
While she’s showered with designer handbags from various brands, her most cherished gift remains a denim purse with pink fringing, given to her by her sister when she was 12. Inside this whimsical coin holder was a ticket to see S Club 7 – a moment she remembers with immense fondness. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that excited,” she recalls.
This year, her wish list is delightfully simple yet revealing. Instead of material possessions, she dreams of “one month off every year,” a button to instantly grant a restful night’s sleep, and a teleportation device to reduce travel time. Her holiday plans include a trip to Ireland, where she anticipates a classic sibling rivalry over potato-roasting duties. “It’s very political,” she observes, accurately describing many Christmas Day scenes.
Coughlan’s unwavering dedication to holiday traditions extends to her movie selections. A viewing of the 1994 adaptation of *Little Women*, starring Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, and Claire Danes, is non-negotiable. “I hate it when people are like, ‘It’s not a Christmas film,’” she asserts. “It is a Christmas film and I will fight to the death on this.”
The evening concluded with a rapid-fire quiz (check British Vogue’s social media for the full video!), showcasing Coughlan’s wit and knowledge. She left us with a surprising geographical fact – Washington D.C. is not in Washington State, nor is it a state at all. A perfect way to steer clear of any potentially contentious political discussions this Christmas season, whether they involve the US or the politically charged art of potato roasting!
