A nameless friend – we’ll call her Siún A., or S. Aherne – sent this to us via Facebook at the end of August:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!! Yes my lovely friends it is that time of year again! Time to organise our Christmas dinner… So a couple of suggestions…
Sat 15th, Friday 21st or Saturday 22nd of December!! And yes.. I have no doubt you will all take the piss out of me and bitch behind my back (or to my face) but you know it makes sense and you all secretly are very grateful that I am here to organise you! Xxxxx
We mocked her mercilessly. Now, she’s been vindicated. It’s proving pretty tough to secure a table for eight people on the Friday December 21 – especially somewhere reasonably cheap.
I’m inclined to shun anywhere that has a Christmas menu at all, as they generally tend to be more expensive than at other times of year. I can’t really blame restaurants for trying to make some extra money at Christmas, but the Christmas menu doesn’t tend to offer anything particularly special for the extra money you pay.
I’m going to put together a nationwide list of places where you can get genuinely good value this Christmas, including restaurants both with and without a Christmas menu.
Your tip-offs and advice would be great. PR companies and restaurants: you are very welcome to post your information here, but please identify yourself, or else your comments will have to be removed.
Where are you heading out over Christmas? And will you also be avoiding the Christmas menu?