The winter months are crammed with opportunities to draw people into your pub, whether it’s for bonfire night, Christmas parties or ringing in the New Year. To help landlords make the most of the season, we’ve put together some helpful advice about what to do food-wise for customers.
Be prepared
Planning is the key to a successful event – a food offer needs to be well organised and costed, taking into account the price of decorations, marketing and incentives.
Introduce a booking system that all members of staff know about and understand.
Create a table plan that comfortably fits the pub and arrange multiple sittings to give the kitchen time to prepare meals well and waiting staff the time to deliver good service.
Be family-friendly
Families are key customers at seasonal events so landlords should cater for people eating with children.
Have small portions available for young diners and offer a variety of options as well as the traditional festive dishes in order to accommodate fussy eaters.
Have colouring books and crayons available on the table to keep children occupied and avoid disturbing other diners.
Make sure there are enough highchairs and booster seats available and ensure there is suitable baby changing facilities that are kept spotlessly clean.
Appeal to groups
Lots of people head out for meals and drinks in large groups over the festive period so it’s important to create an offering that appeals to this type of diner.
Create set menus with up-front prices so groups on a budget know how much their evening will cost before they book.
Offer incentives, such as a free bottle of wine for larger bookings to entice groups to your venue.
Give the option of a buffet for large parties, giving guests the chance to mingle while they eat and reducing the amount of crockery and cutlery needed.
