Season of goodwill! Santa gets £12 an hour but Mrs Claus is only on £6.70

The Celtic Manor hotel near Newport in Gwent is advertising two new vacancies for the Christmas period - they need a Santa and a Mrs Claus.

But if you're thinking of going for the Mrs Claus role, beware of the £5 difference in the hourly pay rate.

Santa duties at the hotel's Christmas Kingdom command a pay rate of £12 an hour, but Mrs Santa will be on £6.70.

Santa Claus gets £12 an hour. Credit: celtic-manor.com

Santa's duties include:

  • Delivering magical experiences to all our guests

  • Good time management so that our visiting sessions do not over-run

  • Good team player – you will have a team of Santa’s elves working with you

  • To meet and interact with all Children and their parents who visit Christmas Kingdom

  • To be entertaining, jovial and happy at all times!

Mrs Claus gets £6.70 an hour. Credit: celtic-manor.com

Mrs Claus' duties include:

  • Delivering magical experiences to all our guests

  • Good time management so that our visiting sessions do not over-run

  • Good team player – you will have a team of Santa’s elves working with you

  • To meet and interact with all Children and their parents who visit Christmas Kingdom and in particular Mrs Claus’ Kitchen

  • To be entertaining, jovial and happy at all times!

The Celtic Manor Hotel at Newport. Credit: PA

Both job descriptions are remarkably similar but a spokesperson for the hotel said the roles at the Christmas Kingdom were very different.

The hotel says the difference in pay reflects only the more skilled requirements and responsibilities of the Santa role and is, in no way, indicative of a gender pay divide.