The great New Year's Eve stay-away

Millions celebrate at home as freezing weather and credit crunch bite

Pubs and nightclubs are bracing themselves for a quiet New Year’s Eve due to a grim combination of freezing weather and the credit crunch.

With night-time temperatures set to plunge below zero in many regions across the country tonight, a lot of revellers are expected to stay indoors.

Coupled with the deepening economic crisis, it all seems to be pointing towards a gloomy night for venue owners, who have already faced a decline in takings as well as a rise in overheads in recent months.

Erika and Grantley Smith, who run the Red Lion, in Bonvilston, near Cardiff, fear their pub might be empty on what is supposed to be one of their biggest nights of the year.

'We're supposed to be expecting about 40 people but whether they'll venture out with the weather I don't know,' said Mrs Smith.

A survey has shown that two out of three of us do not want to celebrate the evening with the traditional night out and will stay at home instead to ring in the year with family and friends.

A spokesman for the Post Office, which conducted the poll, said it was no surprise to discover that people were staying in.

'It's been a tough year financially for many and the expense of going out, coupled with icy temperatures and transport chaos, make a night in with loved ones a very appealing option for seeing out 2008,' she said.

The sober mood is in stark contrast to last year, when mild weather and better economic prospects helped bring out the crowds.

Those brave enough to venture out for Hogmanay in Edinburgh tonight will have to rely on festive cheer to keep them warm – with the mercury struggling to get above zero.

And the following night is expected to see temperatures plummet to an icy minus 5C.

Northern England and Wales will see lows of minus 5C and the rest of the country will experience temperatures of between minus 1C and 0C.

Jennifer Aniston Arrives in Mexico for New Year's!

Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox spent Christmas Eve together...and now they're hanging out on New Year's!

The BFFs and pal Laura Dern were spotted at the airport in Los Cabos, Mexico on Dec. 28.

Aniston toted a light pink passport case, jeans and a scarf in the 80-degree weather.

The Mexican resort city is one of Aniston's favorite destinations.

The actress, 39, has had a whirlwind couple of weeks.

Her new flick, Marley & Me, set a Christmas day opening record (and beat ex Brad Pitt's film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button!).

While promoting the doggie drama in NYC, she was spotted in a rare act of PDA with beau John Mayer, 31.