Christmas party venue in Wakefield: what to look for

Someone always ends up organising it. Usually the same person, usually in late October, usually in a group chat where eleven people have opinions and four have replied.

The job gets easier if you sort three things before you contact anyone.

A rough headcount. Not final — nobody has a final number in October. But "somewhere between 18 and 24" is enough for a venue to work with, and "about 20-odd" isn't.

The format. A sit-down meal with everyone at one table is a different booking to a private room, which is different again to pre-ordered food for a party at home or at the office. Decide which one you actually want. It narrows the list fast.

Dietary requirements. Collect these from your group early rather than on the night. Most kitchens can work around almost anything with notice. Almost none can do it at 8pm on a Saturday in December with forty covers on.

What to ask, and what to ignore

Ask about the menu first. Set festive menu or full à la carte? Does everyone need to pre-order, and by when? Is there a deposit, and is it per head or per booking?

Then ask about timing. December service runs tight, and a venue that tells you honestly they need the table back by nine is doing you a favour. Better to know now than to be hurried through dessert.

Ignore the photos. Every restaurant in West Yorkshire has the same picture of a table with baubles on it. What matters is whether the food suits your group and whether the arrangements hold on the night.

One more thing organisers forget: where people are coming from. If half the group is travelling in from Leeds, Rothwell, Castleford, Dewsbury or Pontefract, send the address out with the first message. It saves a dozen "where is it again?" texts on the day.

Our festive menu, 1–23 December

Tuesday to Sunday. Lunch is Tuesday to Saturday, midday to 4pm — two courses £23.95, three courses £27.95. From 4pm, and all day Sunday, it's £29.95 for two and £34.95 for three.

To start: zuppa di castagne e funghi, a chestnut and wild mushroom soup finished with truffle oil and served with warm focaccia. Arancini di Natale, with turkey, sage and cranberry in a parmesan fonduta. Burrata e zucca with roast butternut, sage and toasted hazelnuts. Prawn cocktail or chicken liver parfait with cranberry chutney if you'd rather something familiar.

Mains: porchetta, slow-roast pork belly with fennel and garlic, crackling and rosemary potatoes. Branzino al limone with crushed potatoes and lemon caper butter. Lasagna al forno. Risotto ai funghi e tartufo, which the kitchen will do vegan on request. And a pizza Natale — turkey, pigs in blankets, brie, cranberry and sage — that does more with turkey than turkey usually deserves. Bistecca is evenings only, 8oz sirloin with peppercorn or Diane sauce, £6 supplement.

Then panettone bread and butter pudding with Amaretto custard, house tiramisù, Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, or a dark chocolate and orange torta.

Parties of eight or more: pre-order seven days ahead, £10 per head deposit.

Book by 31 October and whoever organised it gets a £40 voucher to spend in January 2027. Organising a Christmas party is a thankless job and January is a grim month, so consider that a small correction to both.

Download it and send it round the group before anyone pre-orders: December Festive menu (PDF). All four festive menus are on the festive menus page.

If the group wants a daytime party: bottomless brunch

This is where most December work parties go wrong. Everyone books an evening sit-down because that's what you do, then half the group is watching the clock for the last train and the quiet ones never say a word.

A Friday or Saturday lunchtime works better for a lot of groups, and our bottomless brunch is £39 a head for 90 minutes. Sittings run from midday to 2:30, and your 90 minutes starts when you're seated.

The difference from most bottomless brunches around Wakefield is what turns up at the table. Ours is cooked to order from the open kitchen and brought to you — freshly baked bread with olive oil and balsamic, an antipasti board to share, then your choice of pizzetta or fresh pasta. Not a buffet, not a warming tray. Drinks are Prosecco, Aperol Spritz, Italian beer, house red, white and rosé, and soft drinks for anyone driving.

Pre-booking is essential, minimum two guests, and the package applies to the whole table. Drinks are served one at a time and the next comes when your glass is empty — we run Challenge 25 and our team can slow or stop service, which is the deal everywhere and worth telling your group before you go.

Full details on the bottomless brunch page.

Christmas Day

Friday 25 December, one sitting at midday. £95 per adult, £45 for under-12s, and under-threes get a free sharing plate.

Three courses. Creamy mushroom soup, prawn cocktail, or a Yorkshire pudding with pigs in blankets. Then roast turkey, sirloin or sea bass. Then Christmas pudding, chocolate Yule log or crème brûlée.

Children get a menu of their own rather than smaller adult portions — tomato soup, cheesy garlic bread or a Yorkshire pudding, then turkey, fish goujons or macaroni cheese, and a chocolate Christmas tree, Christmas pudding or ice cream.

Vegetarian and vegan options are available on request. Full payment secures the booking, and Christmas Day fills earlier than people expect.

Both menus to download: Christmas Day menu (PDF) and Children's Christmas Day menu (PDF).

New Year's Eve

Thursday 31 December. £89.95 for adults, £44.95 for under-12s, under-threes free. Prosecco or a Bellini on arrival at 7:30, dinner at eight, DJ from ten, fireworks at midnight and the DJ on until one.

Three courses, four choices at each. Garlic king prawns, crispy calamari, chicken liver pâté or tomato and mozzarella salad. Then sirloin, slow-braised lamb shank, sea bass with king prawns, or vegetarian cannelloni — upgrade the sirloin to an 8oz fillet for £8. Tiramisù, warm chocolate fondant, vanilla panna cotta or an Italian cheese plate to finish.

Tickets must be booked in advance and paid in full. New Year's Eve menu (PDF).

Getting in touch

Have your date, rough numbers and the occasion ready and we can usually tell you in one call whether we can do what you want. Tell us about allergies when you enquire and we'll be straight with you about what we can and can't do for a given dish.

Ring us on 01924 210310, see or download all four menus on the festive menus page, or book your table online.