Blogs
More restaurants than ever are planning to open their doors on Christmas Day this year due to increasing demand from diners, according to a new report by online booking platform Bookatable. Data from the website revealed that Christmas Day bookings had increased by 251% since 2011 with more than two-thirds of Brits choosing to eat out and avoid the hassle of cooking a big Christmas dinner at home as well as the inevitable clean-up that follows.
A home-cooked Christmas dinner might be a traditional part of the holidays for many in Britain, but with 70% of the population spending between three and five hours preparing the meal in the kitchen as well as 78% spending up to three hours cleaning up afterwards, dining out could well be the solution for larger groups that want to spend more time together and minimise stress. Choosing to dine out on the big day could even work out as a cheaper option for some - Bookatable's report discovered that 8% of Brits spend more than £500 on Christmas food whilst 87% buy too much and it ends up going to waste.
A recent article on BigHospitality.com reported that Le Bistrot Pierre will be opening all 14 of their restaurants for the first time on Christmas Day this year, serving a five-course dinner for £59. Nearly all the restaurants are now fully booked. Some restaurants, such as London's Vapiano Great Portland Street, are using a different tactic. The Italian establishment is planning to keep Christmas Day relaxed and stick to its standard menu instead of offering special festive fare as well as allowing guests to keep their tables for as long as they like.
Whichever way hospitality businesses intend to manage their Christmas Day offerings, there are a few things that are bound to resonate with all - a dedication to creating a sense of community and family on what, for many people in the UK, is one of the most important days of the year.
