A miracle on the South Mall

The Imperial Hotel has ushered in the festive season with the release of a new Christmas video that captures the magic, whimsy and warmth at the heart of Cork’s ‘Grand Dame’. Created in collaboration with Dog Day Media, an award-winning Cork-based video and animation production company.

The one minute short is a love letter to the spirit of Christmas, blending charm, humour and a touch of enchantment inspired by the classic film Miracle on 34th Street.

From its opening frames, the video sets a nostalgic tone. It is December 23, and the hotel’s South Mall façade glows against the winter dusk, its arched windows richly dressed for the season.

A kindly gentleman steps inside: Mr Kris Kringle, whose twinkling eyes immediately draw the viewer into a story that feels both timeless and distinctly Cork. The smartly dressed doorman, a familiar figure to regular guests, tips his hat, welcoming him into the warm, elegant lobby decorated with snowkissed Christmas trees, lush green swags and twinkling lights. Inside, the tale unfolds with gentle playfulness.

A close-up of The Imperial Times newspaper reveals a headline reading “Santa Freed Just in Time for Christmas,” setting the tone for a light-hearted, heart-warming narrative. At reception, the festive newcomer is met with polite scepticism, his name ‘Mr Kris Kringle’ prompting a curious glance at his snowy beard and smiling eyes.

The story then moves to an elegantly styled bedroom, where Kris opens his suitcase to reveal his unmistakable red suit.

In the Frederick Douglass Residents Lounge, he sits by the fire, sipping a cup of tea and paging through an antique map as though planning his global travels.

The final act brings the story full circle. Kris enjoys a festive Afternoon Tea in Helena’s when the receptionist reappears. “Any plans for the evening?” she asks. “Oh, I have a busy evening ahead,” he replies warmly. She turns away, then glances back and Kris is gone.

Only a small badge reading I Believe rests on the table as a parting gift.

An exterior shot lingers on the hotel’s twinkling lights, followed by a fleeting glimpse of Santa and his reindeer departing Cork for their Christmas Eve journey. The closing line - “The Imperial Hotel, where the magic of Christmas begins” -perfectly captures the spirit of the season.

This beautifully crafted film distils the essence of what makes Christmas at The Imperial so beloved: tradition, nostalgia and the belief that magic can be found in the smallest gestures, an ethos held firmly by the hotel’s Irish family ownership, the Louis Fitzgerald Group.

To see the Miracle on South Mall Christmas Video, follow @theimperialhotelcork on social media.