You bet Brits are dreaming of a long hot summer next year

Talking about the weather is as British as fish and ships and drinking tea and according to a new survey carried out by leading bookmaker Coral, the fascination with weather extends into our New Year hopes too.

In a poll of 1,000 people carried out by the firm, the prospect of record breaking summer sunshine came out top with almost a quarter (23%) of the nation saying this was what they were most looking forward to in 2015, an outcome Coral price at 8/1.

With a busy year in prospect, a change in government came out second with one in five (17%) Brits listing this as the event they’re most looking forward to, followed by a more personal choice of their football team winning the league (11%).

Those aged over 65 said they were most looking forward to record breaking sunshine and a British Wimbledon win while 25-34 year olds are most excited about football team success and the new Royal baby’s arrival. Perhaps unsurprisingly, northerners are most dreaming of sunshine, Scots are hoping for a change in government and the Irish are hoping Rory McIlroy remains the World Number One.

When it comes to who’s making a New Year’s resolution this year, the poll reveals that the majority of the nation won’t be bothering, with only a third planning to commit (38%). Regionally, Brummies are twice as likely to be making a New Year’s resolution as those in Edinburgh while respondents aged between 25 and 34 were the most keen to make changes in 2015 with more than half (56%) planning to make a resolution.

With another busy year coming to a close, Coral is now looking ahead to what might be in store for 2015, offering odds on the likes of Prince Harry getting engaged, currently at 8/1, Harry Styles leaving One Direction at 6/1 and X Factor being axed at 5/2. Weather-wise, it’s 8/1 that 2015 will be the wettest year on record and evens for snow on New Year’s Day.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: “There’s a lot to look forward to for next year, from new additions to the Royal family to a rugby World Cup but our poll shows that a sunny summer is what will lift the nation’s sprits most in 2015. Our current odds are at 8/1 that 2015 will be the hottest year on record, so all eyes will be on the forecasts in the months to come.”
Position Event Percentage
1 Record breaking summer sunshine 23%
2 A change in government 17%
3 Football team winning league 11%
4 Arrival of new Royal Baby 7%
=5 British Wimbledon win/ home rugby World Cup win 3.5%