How To Make The Christmas Holidays Special: Our Top Tips
However, once December arrives, the Christmas holidays can tend to fly by in a whirlwind of wreaths and wrapping paper, so now is your chance to plan ahead and make every magical moment count. From winter walks and festive feasts to cosy crafting and breakfast with Santa, here are some of our favourite ways to keep the whole family happy during the Christmas holidays.
Have breakfast with Santa
If your little ones are still firm believers, it doesn’t get much better than a meet-and-greet with the big man himself. Luckily, he happens to have a soft spot for the breakfast menu at Chef & Brewer, so why not book a magical morning with jolly old Saint Nick?
Our Breakfast with Santa events let kids experience all the magic and joy of Christmas morning (with none of the clean-up afterwards), while giving the grown-ups an opportunity to kick back and enjoy a welcome break away from the festive chaos. There are plenty of tasty options for all ages, from our Full Breakfast to our Pancake Stack. So whether you're heading out to tackle your Christmas shopping, or you're just planning to cosy up by the fire, Breakfast with Santa is the perfect way to start your day, and your festive season.
Decorate the house
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of sparkle, would it? If your little ones love seeing the Christmas tree all decked out with lights, baubles, tinsel and mistletoe, why not let them get involved this year? What may have otherwise been a laborious task can become a treasured family tradition. Sure, the results may be less than perfect — a little mismatched, and wonky here and there — but the memories will last a lifetime. Shame you can’t say the same about that broken bauble.
And the best bit? Many hands make light work, which means more time for tasty tipples and sweet treats to celebrate a job well done. Now that's a Christmas ritual worth repeating next year...
Winter Walks
There’s nothing quite like a bracing winter walk to blow away the cobwebs. Crunchy snow underfoot, icicles hanging from every tree branch, and the simple joy of time spent together in the open air. If you want to coax the family out for a bit of countryside exploration this December, simply choose a trail suitable for you and your fellow adventurers, and go forth into the great outdoors!
Even better, once the winter breeze has chilled you to the bone, there’s always a roaring fireplace waiting for you at your local Chef & Brewer pub, not to mention a menu of hearty pub meals to warm you up from the inside out.
Christmas crafting
If it’s simply too chilly to head outdoors, a cosy Christmas crafting session is the perfect way to enjoy quality time together. You don’t need to be a professional artist — it’s amazing what a few basic craft materials and a bit of effort can do! For example, why not make your very own festive wreath featuring bits and bobs collected from a nature walk, such as acorns, pinecones and sprigs of holly?
You could even use a festive crafting session to create your own Christmas cards or stamped wrapping paper: a fun, hands-on activity that the whole family can enjoy, and you get something useful out of it, too!
Festive movie marathons
You really cannot beat a good Christmas film. Whether you’re heading out to the cinema to catch something new, or throwing on your pyjamas and streaming a few old favourites, there’s something magical about watching a festive flick with your nearest and dearest. From Hollywood classics like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street to those slightly daft-but-enjoyable streaming romcoms where everyone is secretly royalty or a snowman come to life, a Christmas film is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of wrapping gifts and wrangling your little elves.
And let’s be honest, who wants to cook while you’re in movie mode? If a trip to the pictures is on the cards, a delicious pub meal before or after the showing is an excellent way to keep the festive fun going.
Bake up a storm
Christmas really is the sweetest time of year. Gingerbread, mince pies, cookies, brownies, cupcakes… we could go on and on! Yep, we all love a freshly baked sweet treat at Yuletide, and nothing says festive fun like baking together as a family. If baking isn’t your forte, choose something simple and remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect, just edible.
And if it all goes a bit pear-shaped, you can always call it quits and head to your favourite Chef & Brewer pub for some indulgent treats guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth! Oh go on, it’s Christmas after all!
Festive family feasts
If you’re enjoying not having to be up at the crack of dawn for the school run, perhaps you’d prefer to have a lie-in and join us for a festive feast later in the day? And with so many mouth-watering meals to sample, who could blame you? Better yet, book a table between the 11th of November and the 1st of January and you can tuck into our fabulous festive menu, perfect for lively get-togethers and lively family reunions. And if you're dining as a family, our children's menu is ideal for smaller appetites.
Food has a way of bringing people together, particularly around Christmas time, and heading to a lively pub allows you to share special moments with your favourite people without the hassle of hosting. Christmas dinner without all that washing up? What a dream!
Raise a glass
It's not just the festive food that makes Christmas so special, it's the opportunity to get together and toast the season, whether that be with a bottle of something bubbly, a pint of perfectly poured cask ale, or an expertly mixed gin and tonic. And there's no better place to do so than at your local country pub, where a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available, just waiting to go "chin-chin!"
Peruse our drinks menu ahead of your next visit.
Take a winter road trip
Set in some of the country’s most peaceful and picturesque areas, our hotels are perfect for families who love getting out into nature. With a festive Chef & Brewer getaway, you can plan plenty of countryside adventures to fill the days before stumbling back to your hotel for some warming picky bits and a glass of something delicious by the fire. Absolute bliss!
Get cosy during the Christmas school holidays
So, if you want to make the most of the fleeting Christmas holidays, take a trip to your local Chef & Brewer and savour the Yuletide atmosphere. Whether it’s sharing breakfast with Santa or an evening filled with festive family fun, we’ve got everything covered.
Find a Chef & Brewer pub near you and step into the season!