FROM annual work nights out to long-awaited catch-ups with pals, Christmas is the busiest time of year.

But have you ever wondered what makes the ultimate Christmas night out?

Tennent’s Lager has surveyed 1000 people to answer that very question and it turns out there’s a secret recipe to keeping you sociable over the festive season.

Music – and in particular, Wham!

Over 60 per cent of punters said Christmas wouldn’t be the same without their local pub and plan at least four trips over the festive fortnight - including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but said setting the right atmosphere is essential.

Good music was voted as one of the most important factors in making a festive pub visit fun. Six in ten Scots admitted they’ve left a bar due to terrible music, while 72 per cent said they’ve stayed in the pub longer because the playlist was so good.

Wham’s classic song, Last Christmas and The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York were voted the top tunes they’d want to hear, while novelty songs by The Cheeky Girls and Alvin and the Chipmunks were picked as the biggest festive turkeys.

Pubs embracing the festive cheer is important for 97 per cent of Christmas party-goers. When they’re in a bar, punters expect a good mix of festive decorations including a tree and lights. Good beer, festive glassware and staff in Christmas clobber also polled as positives.

But the most important festive ingredient is unsurprisingly the company.

Pals were overwhelmingly voted the best drinking buddies with other halves and family in close competition for second place.

Alan McGarrie, Head of UK Brand Marketing at Tennent’s Lager said: “We’ve listened to the people and to help pubs serve up the ultimate night out, we’ve issued a playlist of the top 10 songs that make people want to stay in the pub longer, and those that they should avoid.

"We’ve also designed festive glassware and sent this to 750 bars across Scotland. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a pint with your pal in your local over Christmas – cheers!”