Have you thought about having dinner in a pub? If you’re visiting the UK at Christmas, or just want to let someone else cook all day long, pubs are a great alternative to fancy or DIY restaurants on Christmas Day.
With a few notable exceptions, only the most prestigious restaurants are actually open on Christmas Day, and fine dining restaurants can’t resist delivering holiday food with their own gourmet twists.
Before planning a traditional Christmas dinner in a pub
Pubs can be counted on to serve up a traditional British Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. And since many pubs are also the owner’s family home, the atmosphere is warmer and friendlier than you might find in a restaurant. But before planning to enjoy one, keep in mind that:
- Not all pubs are open on Christmas Day and among those that are, not all will be serving food.
- Christmas dinner in a pub is actually a Christmas lunch in the UK.
- Bars such as hotel restaurants and dining rooms will charge a premium for dining on Christmas Day.
- You need to book well in advance – most pubs serving Christmas Day lunches start making reservations in mid-November. Some do it as early as the end of October.
- You will probably have to pay the full amount or a non-refundable deposit when booking
And, if you find the price of a Christmas Day dinner at a pub too high, you can save money by enjoying a similar menu before or after the holidays. Most pubs offer a seasonal holiday menu throughout the month of December, with many traditional Christmas options for less than the price of a full Christmas day.
Ten excellent pubs for Christmas dinner
These English pubs, spread across the country, generally serve Christmas lunches or Christmas Eve dinners (because pubs change owners, owners, and policies, it’s best to check their websites or call in early October just to be sure) :
- The Plow at Bolnhurst, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire MK44 2EX, Phone: +44 (0) 1234 376274. Housed in a partially Tudor building, this was the Bedfordshire Food Pub of the Year in The Good Pub Guide in 2009. In 2017, they are This pub is still described as worth a visit and it certainly looks fun. All the critics of the restaurant love it. In the past, they offered lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve, a jazz lunch and dinner on Boxing Day (December 26), and a festive menu from December 1 to 23. Check in early November for the latest Christmas season plans.
- The Ferry at Cookham, Sutton Road, Cookham, Maidenhead SL6 9SN, phone: +44 (0) 1628 525123. A bit trendy and gastropub-ish, but the locals in this very pretty town sing its praises. The menu is traditional, or not, as you wish. With many options for vegetarians and non-meat eaters. During the holidays, you can reserve a spot at the bar for bubbling and nibbling as well. That is a novel idea.
- The Royal Oak, Yattendon, The Square, Yattendon, RG18 0UG Phone: +44 (0) 1635 201 325. A restaurant with a small country pub suitable for children and dogs next door. They won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2016 and an Open Table Diner’s Choice award in 2017. In 2015, their Christmas Day lunch was pricey at £ 75 per person, but included all the traditional favorites plus champagne. They made a very reasonable children’s menu that features the essentials of Christmas food. And on New Year’s Eve they had live entertainment. Call them in late October or early November for details on Christmas plans for the current year.
- The Ship, Wandsworth, 41 Jewish Row, Wandsworth, London SW18 1TB, phone: +44 (0) 208 870 9667. This is a wonderful pub, one of my favorites in London. But its location, almost under Wandsworth Bridge, south of the Thames, makes it difficult to find. And since there are several London pubs in the area known as The Ship, you could end up in the wrong place. Be sure to phone for directions if you are unfamiliar with the location. For Christmas Day, their lunch options ranged from traditional to sophisticated, and in recent years they were priced at £ 80 per adult or £ 40 per child for a five-course menu. Better give them a call in early November or check out their website to see what’s in 2017.
- The Bull at Broughton, Broughton, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 3AE. Phone: +44 (0) 1756 792065. Beautiful old stone built Yorkshire pub. Their menu offers local cheeses, Yorkshire lamb and regional specialties. Ask about their occasional guinea pig nights when they try new dishes on an inexpensive 3-course prix fixe menu.
- The Grazing Goat, 6 New Quebec Street, London, W1H 7RQ, phone: +44 (0) 20 7724 7243. If you plan to stay in London over Christmas, especially if you are staying at a hotel in Bayswater or near Marble Arch, the goat Pasture generally serves traditional ingredients with a gastropub twist. Fish eaters and vegetarians are also well catered for. This pub with rooms is not your typical Englishe pub, but it is very classy in a modern, rustic way. In the past, their Christmas Day menu cost around £ 85 for four courses plus some champagne. They have a children’s menu but they don’t seem to serve it for Christmas. I would call to double check. They usually serve a good New Year’s Eve menu as well.
- The Red Lion, 2 Castelnau, Barnes, London SW13 9RU, Phone: +44 (0) 20 8748 2984. This Fuller pub, about a mile from London’s Fuller Brewery in the far west of London, is popular throughout year. With its sparkling fireplaces, Georgian chandeliers, and warm wood paneling, it looks like a perfect Christmas scene. There is also a heated outdoor terrace where you can raise a glass if the Christmas weather is mild (which it can sometimes be). Members of The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Oasis are among the famous locals who have come to visit. And the place is very easy to get to from central and west London. Together with my friends, I had a Christmas lunch here in 2016. The food was very good, too much to eat and very well done. The friendly and dog-friendly environment,
- The Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria, Phone: +44 (0) 15395 68486. A cozy place not far from Lake Windermere in The Lake District. The Good Pub Guide named it Pub of the Year for the Northwest in the past, and the Publishing Awards have cited its lodgings. On Christmas Day, they usually offer a session at 1 pm for a large traditional feast. They also serve on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Years Eve. As usual, check their website from the end of October onwards or call to find out their vacation plans.
- The Fox Goes Free Charlton, Nr Goodwood, W Sussex PO18 0HU, Phone: +44 (0) 1243 811461. Great name for a 400 year old pub of character in Horsey country near Goodwood Racecourse and the fabulous Goodwood Estate. Even if you don’t go for Christmas dinner, at least stop by for a drink before Christmas. Your outdoor decorations are simply splendid!
- The Lamb Hindon Hindon, Wiltshire SP3 6DP, phone: +44 (0) 1747 820 573. Formerly known as ‘The Lamb at Hindon’, this pub dropped the ‘at’ in its name when it changed hands. For now, it is managed by Young’s, one of the UK’s leading pub and pub hotel operators. We can’t say what this will mean for diners, but our experience at other Young pubs has been excellent. Christmas lunch has been a long tradition in this 900-year-old public house. They typically serve a four-course Christmas lunch, as well as Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Years Eve, and New Years parties. It’s a lovely pub and if you can’t book a meal it’s worth stopping by for a holiday drink.
