What a Grinch! Hugh Grant slams Pret A Manger for playing Christmas music too early in the year... but the high street eatery sees the funny side

Hugh Grant has blasted Pret A Manger for playing Christmas music too early in the year.

The Love Actually star, 59, often tweets about everyday annoyances using his handle @HackedOffHugh - and his latest gripe was aimed at high street food chain Pret.

Staff had dressed up in Santa hats and Christmas songs played over the sound system to celebrate the launch of their festive menu on Tuesday morning.

Scrooge: Hugh Grant blasted sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger for playing Christmas music too early in the year

Scrooge: Hugh Grant blasted sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger for playing Christmas music too early in the year

'Christmas hats and music off please @Pret,' Hugh said. 'Try again in four weeks. It doesn't make us merry or spend more. It makes us GNASH.'

Keeping their tone light, the store dodged his demands, instead choosing to respond with a picture of Hugh as the Prime Minister in the much-loved Christmas film Love Actually.

'We were hoping to see your famous dances moves, Hugh,' they joked.

But others were not impressed, as equally aggrieved Pret customers joined Hugh in their disapproval.

Not happy: Hugh's latest victim was the high street food chain Pret, where staff dressed up in Santa hats and Christmas songs played over the sound system (pictured in Love Actually)

Not happy: Hugh's latest victim was the high street food chain Pret, where staff dressed up in Santa hats and Christmas songs played over the sound system (pictured in Love Actually)

One said: 'Funny reply, but I'm with Hugh.'

Another added: 'Less than funny reply, and I’m with Hugh.'

While another responded: 'Pret staff should refuse to wear those ridiculous Xmas hats, especially when it’s only beginning of Nov. If they did that they would probably be fired unfortunately.'

Joker: 'Christmas hats and music off please @Pret,' Hugh said. 'Try again in four weeks. It doesn't make us merry or spend more. It makes us GNASH'

Joker: 'Christmas hats and music off please @Pret,' Hugh said. 'Try again in four weeks. It doesn't make us merry or spend more. It makes us GNASH'

The father-of-five's comments come as the store launches its festive menu. A spokesman confirmed the Christmas playlist was brought forward to promote the launch.

'This year our Team Members in Pret shops across the country have chosen the songs on our Christmas playlist.

'This has been playing in shops this morning to celebrate the launch of our Christmas Menu. From later this afternoon, we’ll resume our normal playlist until 1 December.'

The funny side: Keeping their tone light, the store dodged his demands, instead choosing to respond with a picture of Hugh as the Prime Minister in Love Actually

The funny side: Keeping their tone light, the store dodged his demands, instead choosing to respond with a picture of Hugh as the Prime Minister in Love Actually

Hugh famously starred in About A Boy, playing a man who lived comfortably off the royalties earned by a Christmas song.

It comes after Hugh took to Twitter to complain his trip to watch Joker at his local cinema in Fulham was 'pointless' due to the deafening noise levels of the psychological thriller.

'Am I old or is the cinema MUCH TOO LOUD? Unendurable. Pointless. @vuecinemas,' he tweeted.

Lacking in Christmas spirit: Others were not impressed, as equally aggrieved Pret customers joined Hugh in their disapproval

Lacking in Christmas spirit: Others were not impressed, as equally aggrieved Pret customers joined Hugh in their disapproval

However Vue cinema were quick to respond to his tweet, assuring him that sound settings are 'regularly checked to ensure they comply with health and safety standards', and promising to look into the matter.

But the Paddington 2 actor snapped back and asked how they could possibly help if they didn't know which cinema he had gone to, adding that the 'joke was on him'. 

Many fans also shared their thoughts on noise levels in cinemas, agreeing that films appear to be getting increasingly louder, leading to uncomfortable viewing.

'Unendurable': Hugh Grant blasted the volume levels in cinemas after sitting through a screening of the Joker in his local Vue cinema

'Unendurable': Hugh Grant blasted the volume levels in cinemas after sitting through a screening of the Joker in his local Vue cinema

'The cinema is much too loud. Unbearable!' One Twitter user wrote.

'Far too loud. I don't go anymore,' another said.

'I went to see the Girl On The Train and the intro was so loud it frightened me. I had to walk out and ask for my money back. I will not be going again,' one said

'Much too loud': The actor, 59, took to Twitter to complain his trip to watch the film in Fulham was 'pointless' and complained of the defeaning noise levels of the psychological thriller

'Much too loud': The actor, 59, took to Twitter to complain his trip to watch the film in Fulham was 'pointless' and complained of the defeaning noise levels of the psychological thriller

Too much? Sound levels in cinemas have even prompted members of the British Tinnitus Association, who work to prevent hearing damage, to launch a survey on noise

Too much? Sound levels in cinemas have even prompted members of the British Tinnitus Association, who work to prevent hearing damage, to launch a survey on noise

'I'd love to take my grandchildren to the cinema but I had such a bad headache after the last time that I took them - I daren't!' another wrote.

'Vue are ALWAYS too loud - any multiplex cinema is painful for the first 1/4 hour - dread to think what damage they do our ears!' one said.

Sound levels in cinemas have even prompted members of the British Tinnitus Association, who work to prevent hearing damage, to launch a survey on noise in public spaces, the Observer reports.

'You don't know': The Paddington 2 actor snapped back and asked how they could possibly help if they didn't know which cinema he had gone to

'You don't know': The Paddington 2 actor snapped back and asked how they could possibly help if they didn't know which cinema he had gone to

The size of cinema, audience number and age can all have an effect on the perception of sound.

A spokesperson for Dolby cinema said loud noises can often be confused with feelings of 'discomfort' during a film.

'While a scene may be perceived as loud, these are brief moments and well within the industry standards. An area that can be confused with loudness is when we feel discomfort: this could be loudness or distortion.

'Distortion is when a sound system was not appropriate for the size of room it is installed in and at peaks causes distortion, which is objectionable to a listener,' they told the publication.

It comes after Joker is stirred controversy on its opening weekend, after some fans stormed out of theaters around the world saying the movie was too disturbing and 'triggering'

It comes after Joker is stirred controversy on its opening weekend, after some fans stormed out of theaters around the world saying the movie was too disturbing and 'triggering'

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