A pub manager and industry expert has revealed the last day you can expect to book your Christmas dinner this year to avoid disappointment.
The run-up to Christmas is one of the best times of the year, but it is also often the busiest. From buying presents and cards to seeing family and friends, it’s often easy to forget one of the most pivotal parts of the holiday- booking the Christmas dinner.
With over one in six families choosing to spend their Christmas day tucking into a plate of turkey and roast potatoes in a restaurant or bar on the 25th, it’s safe to say that many could be risking disappointment if they forget to book in time.
Payment experts at SumUp have spoken exclusively to Pub Manager Luke Slater to expertly predict the last day you can book your Christmas dinner this year to avoid disappointment.
What is the last day I can book my Christmas dinner?
Many popular restaurants will release their Christmas booking dates and times as early as September to give their customers plenty of time to make a booking.
While dates can vary between venues, the most common deadlines are set in the first week of December, with larger brands such as the Miller and Carter Steakhouse setting them as early as the 2nd of the festive month.
Other smaller venues may have their dates set later as they are more flexible regarding capacity. On average, the last day you should expect to book your Christmas Dinner is the 11th of December.
However, customers should know that venues located in busy areas or with a smaller table capacity may already be booked by this date.
Luke Slater, Pub Manager explains:
“The final date of taking Christmas Day lunch bookings … is Wednesday 11th December. The reason behind this decision is so that all deposits and pre-orders ready for Christmas Day lunch are acquired to the kitchen in time. This will vary for different businesses, but the general idea is the earlier we can get things booked the better.
If we do have a high number of inquiries and we have space, we can push this deadline back, however, we wouldn’t go any later than Wednesday 18th December, this is because of wholesale Christmas close-downs. Currently, though, we only have space left for 12 people [as of the 16/10/24].”
Why do restaurants set deadlines for Christmas bookings?
Luke Slater, adds: “A factor behind this date for bookings is to ensure there is no service pressure between both kitchen and front-of-house teams. There is nothing worse if you get a complaint on Christmas Day regarding service being slow due to overbooking the space, something which we’re very conscious of as we want to ensure that everyone has the best experience on the day.
So to help with this, knowing the numbers, knowing the food orders, and having a good structure in place is key for a smooth operation on Christmas Day.”
When should I book my Christmas Dinner 2025?
Luke Slater, explains: “We started advertising for Christmas Day lunch at the end of August. This is to benefit the customer and give them ample amount of time to be able to book Christmas Lunch.
Really the best tip that I can give to you all is timing. As soon as restaurants start to launch their Christmas Day Lunch I would advise making that call straight away to avoid disappointment. Also, it’s good to shop around and find your best deal so that you and your family can enjoy your Christmas Day lunch together in an amazing atmosphere. Most people will know the restaurant before they book I assume, but if it’s a new location, just make sure they cater to your needs e.g. are they more family orientated or fine dining.”
