Christmas Party Promise
With only 10 weeks to Christmas, now is the time to be making those party plans
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la… too much already I hear you cry? And yes, Christmas does seem to start earlier year on year. But if, like us, you need to plan ahead then now is the time. Especially as places start to book up earlier and earlier, especially very popular venues and those offering a combined evening of food, drink and entertainment.
From simple festive lunches, to dinners and Xmas balls, Brighton and Hove offers a massive range of options, no surprise for a city that could be re-named Party Central.
Throughout the weeks that lead up to the holiday the city’s restaurants and hotels will be offering special festive menus and party deals. Whether you are a small group or a huge company outing, there’s sure to be something to suit all sizes and all pockets.
Some venues even open on Christmas Day, offering fabulous yuletide feasts. They are well worth taking a look at. Last year we booked Christmas lunch at one stylish seafront Hotel, Drakes as it happens. The food was sublime, the atmosphere jolly and relaxed, and the bill… well, put in simple terms, it cost me less than my usual Christmas shopping budget – and I didn’t have to shop, cook or wash up. Now that’s what I call real value!
Over the next few pages we have a selection of great party ideas, menus and deals to tempt you. So in advance, we wish you happy booking, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Image: Velour Dress With Diamante Trim, £60, from Fifty Plus www.fiftyplus.co.uk
Agua Dulce
At Agua Dulce, Christmas comes with a capital C as owner Carlos and his wife, the chef, really push the boat out. There are two menu options with a tapas dinner for parties of eight or more priced at £16.95. In advance you can choose eight tapas dishes and simply tuck in for a sharing feast of authentic and traditional delights. Alternatively you can opt for their seasonal three-course menu with choices at every stage at £24.95 per head.
A simple glance at the menu will have you chomping at the bit for an individual honey and wine roast pork hock and a whiskey and ice-cream tart.
Agua Dulce has won the hearts of locals with their busy bar and restaurant, their delicious cooking, great wines and their passion for fun. A party at Agua Dulce is guaranteed to go with a swing.
Agua Dulce, 10-11 King’s Road, Brighton,
BN1 1NE, 01273 328672,
info@aguadulce-restaurant.com, www.aguadulce-restaurant.com
The Amex Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion have three fantastic party options at The Amex this Christmas. The festive parties have proved very popular since debuting in 2011, and this year they are expecting record bookings for the Disco, Motown and ’90s music nights. Dance lovers can enjoy the new Disco Party format for just £28 per head, with a party buffet platter on your table and DJ dance music all night on 6–7, 13–14, and 20–21 December. Tickets for Saturday 14 December have already sold out.
For just £44.50 per person, groups can book for the Motown or ‘Go Back To The ’90s’ parties and dance the night away with a glass of Buck’s Fizz on arrival, a two-course sit-down meal followed by coffee and mince pies and live entertainment with a midnight survivors snack. Motown band The Devotions will entertain on 7, 13, 19 and 21 December. ‘Go Back To The ’90s’ live music will play on 6, 14 and 20 December.
Award-winning executive chef Malcolm Emery will be making sure the catering doesn’t disappoint, while the hospitality team will be offering a warm welcome to guests at their Christmas parties this year.
Contact The Amex Stadium events team on 01273 878272 or email events@bhafc.co.uk.
The Amex Stadium, Village Way, Brighton BN1 9BL, www.amexstadium.co.uk
The Townhouse Kemptown
Celebrate your Christmas at The Townhouse Kemptown this year with award-wining chef, Malcolm Campbell at the helm. Guests can enjoy festive delights all through the Christmas season and into the New Year. Realising what a busy time of year it can be, The Townhouse has decided to extend their menu into January just in case you were a little too busy to have your Christmas get together before the big day.
They have the perfect table called “the snug” overlooking the buzzing St James’s Street. The snug can seat up to 14 people and is next to the bar area where they have live music seven nights a week, making it just perfect for the festive season.
Christmas parties aside, why not take a break from all the shopping, pop in and enjoy a tasty tipple in their bar? You can sit and enjoy some wonderful music from jazz to contemporary; there are different musicians every night.
The striking VIP white room is a popular choice for parties and can seat up to 12 people. Whether a breakfast meeting, a casual dinner, a festive cocktail party or a special celebration, they will work with you to execute a memorable event. As a little added thank you from the team, parties can also enjoy a complimentary bottle of champagne when they choose to book an evening in the white room. Whatever the occasion and whatever the time, the VIP white room presents the perfect backdrop for any event.
The Townhouse Kemptown, 81–82 St James’s Street, Kemp Town, Brighton BN2 1PA, 01273 693216, www.thetownhousekemptown.co.uk
Graze Restaurant
Host your Christmas party at Graze restaurant this year for an incomparable dining experience. Multi award winning Graze Restaurant offers a number of options to ensure the ultimate dining experience to suit you, your colleagues and friends.
The elegant and exclusive Regency Room offers intimate dining seating up to 24 guests in an atmosphere of relaxed opulence. The room has its own private bar and audio system making it the perfect place for a stylish celebration. Alternatively book the entire restaurant for your private use and tailor the evening to your exact requirements.
This year, talented head chef Adrian Hawkins has developed three inspired menus to suit your tastes and budget. Choose from the a la carte style Silver and Gold menus or opt for the indulgent Platinum tasting menu for a dining experience which captures the essence of the festive season and combines it with the innovation and creativity for which Graze is renowned.
Book now for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and enjoy a sumptuous feast with your friends and family. Early booking is essential as space is very limited. See the website for all Graze’s fabulous seasonal menus.
Graze Restaurant, 42 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1JD.
Call Kate on 01273 823707 or email info@graze-restaurant.co.uk
www.graze-restaurant.co.uk
Royal Pavilion
The South East’s most beautiful winter ice rink is the perfect place to have your Christmas Party. It opens for its fourth year on Saturday 9 November to Sunday 19 January 2014 on the Royal Pavilion’s Eastern lawns in Brighton.
With the former Royal pleasure palace as backdrop, the 800 square metre rink has space for 250 skaters per session, with a beginners’ area with penguin skate aids and skate sizes from ‘just walking’ to adult, offering seasonal fun and a unique and special festive experience. And whether you’re a skater or not, everyone is welcome to enjoy delicious food and drink by
day and night at the stunning rinkside Bar and Kitchen, which offers heart-warming snacks, delicious lunches and dinners, a great bar selection, with mulled wine and hot chocolate with marshmallows always available.
It offers great value menus, a Christmas package from £24.50 including welcome drink and three course meal, or bring your party to the Ice Rink Comedy Night with star compere Stephen Grant on 29 November. Skating is a fun added option for party goers. The extensive bar also offers local, seasonal beers and ciders. To discuss your party or to make a booking, call 01273 675756 or email info@hardingscatering.co.uk
Skating tickets cost from £10 for adults and £7 for children under 12.
Buy your tickets now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk/royal-pavilion-ice-rink or call 0844 8472352 or for group bookings of ten or more call 0844 8471512.
www.royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
Breeze
Inspired by modern European cusine, Breeze serves brasserie-style food plus a good selection of heartier rustic dishes made with local produced throughout the day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – as well as offering a well stocked bar for those lazy evenings enjoying cocktails and good food.
A must after a hard day shopping in local boutiques or lazing on the beach. Breeze is the perfect addition to Brighton’s dining scene.
A bright and chilled restaurant, Breeze is situated on North Laine’s busy Trafalgar Street. Relaxed and upbeat, Breeze’s atmosphere matches its name with friendly service and an informal vintage-tyle look, combining exposed brick with reclaimed clocks, mirrors, café seating and comfy banquettes.
Breeze Brasserie, 98 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ER,
01273 693377, www.breezebrasserie.co.uk
Mon – Thu: 10am–9.30pm
Fri – Sat: 10am–10.30pm
Sun: 10am–9.30pm
Gars
Regular readers will know that here at Latest 7 we are big fans of Gars. The reasons are clear. Over 30 years Gars has built a reputation for serving excellent Chinese food, both traditional and, in recent years, more innovative. The restaurant is stylish and has a great ambience. The service is first class, attentive but never cloying. When Gars says party they mean PARTY! Yes, for all the style, great food and service they deliver fun in equal measure. There are great Christmas menus, all priced at £26 and with plenty of delicious options. There is a fabulously glamorous private dining room with state-of-the-art karaoke and Fornisetti wall coverings, and in our experience, even the shyest member of your team will join in the fun.
Gars, 19 Prince Albert Street, Brighton, BN1 1HF, 01273 321321, www.gars.co.uk
Hilton Brighton Metropole
For a truly unforgettable occasion, the Hilton Brighton Metropole is the perfect destination, offering a choice of tempting cuisine and sparkling entertainment.
With 35 function rooms they can accommodate any request from two to 1,500 guests. Celebrate with colleagues and friends at their Christmas Party Nights in conjunction with Juice FM, which includes half of bottle of wine with a three-course meal from £29 per adult. Private Christmas parties are ideal for larger groups.
If Christmas Day normally feels rushed, use the day to relax whilst being entertained with live music in the Waterhouse Restaurant with its large picture windows, providing stunning sea views. A glass of bubbly will be waiting for you on arrival followed by a delicious four-course carvery.
On Boxing Day their Executive Chef invites you to indulge in his fantastic Boxing Day Brunch. The buffet has been especially designed to encourage you to relax, sit back and unwind. A perfect way to finish off Christmas in style with Aberdeen Angus Rib of Beef, Honey Glazed Gammon and Confit Belly of Lamb to name just a few.
Say goodbye to 2013 and bring in the New Year at the most glamorous event in Brighton. The Master of Ceremonies is here to greet you at the New Year’s Eve Celebration Dinner and Dance in conjunction with Juice FM. The evening begins with a bubbly reception followed by a sumptuous four-course dinner and dancing until the early hours with live entertainment and DJ.
A great way to spend New Year’s Eve with the whole family is the New Year Family Celebration in the Waterhouse Restaurant. Pre-dinner drinks are followed by a fabulous four-course dinner and live entertainment.
Why go home after your celebration? Hilton Brighton Metropole has special accommodation rates available from £69 per room per night.
Hilton Brighton Metropole, King’s Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU. For help with developing your Christmas ideas, please contact their Christmas co-ordinator on 01273 720710, www.hilton.com/Hotels
The Restaurant at Drakes
For a very fine, festive affair, celebrate this year’s Christmas party in style at Drakes, Brighton’s top boutique hotel.
Drakes is all about sophisticated fine dining in an ambience of relaxed glamour, excellent service and more than just a hint of fun.
Tables seating two to 20 can be reserved in the restaurant or for larger groups, book the whole restaurant for a private, fun-filled Christmas party. For up to 12 people, consider booking The Private Dining Room, which includes the services of a designated waiter, perfect if you want to add that extra special touch to your event. There is no additional hire charge for the use of this room, which makes it all the more appealing.
Arrive at the hotel early for aperitifs or a crisp chilled glass of Champagne which can be taken in the fabulous sea front Reception Bar before making your way down to the award-winning Restaurant at Drakes. Having again achieved the highest score of all Brighton restaurants in the 2014 Good Food Guide, the creative menus and impeccable dishes of Chef Andrew MacKenzie are certainly set to impress.
Why not make a night of it? As the bar is open all night for hotel guests, the celebrations can continue until late – then just mosey up to one of the beautiful hotel rooms for a great night’s sleep. There’s no need to worry about missing buses or queuing for a taxi to get you home!
A three-course Christmas Party Lunch menu is offered at £25 per person whilst the dinner menu is £40 per person.
Restaurant at Drakes, 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, 01273 696934
info@drakesofbrighton.com
www.therestaurantatdrakes.com
www.drakesofbrighton.com
Las Iguanas
Las Iguanas presents a very Latin Christmas in the North Laine where they’ve wrapped up Christmas celebrations with a Latin twist. Get festive with a feast of South American goodies, plus plenty of veggie and gluten-free options. Choose from the lunch menu from £15pp or the anytime menu from £21pp. There’s 20 per cent off your food bill for parties ordering from the Christmas menu Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays throughout November and December (excludes 24 December and 29–31 December), and if you’re organising a party for 10+ you’ll get a £20 voucher for the New Year. Organise a party for 30+ and receive a £50 voucher.
Find the Christmas pack on their website. Las Iguanas, 7-8 Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE, 01273 573550, brighton@iguanas.co.uk, www.iguanas.co.uk
The House
Make it a proper “House” party this Christmas with friends, family and work colleagues in East Street’s renowned The House Restaurant.
They’ve got it all covered for Christmas this year:
Amazing menu…tick
Cosy private dining areas…tick
Homely, warm, Christmassy ambience…tick
Decorations, crackers and party poppers…tick
Christmas cocktails and luxurious liqueurs…tick
Lovely smiley staff…tick
Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose…tick
A real Christmas Tree…tick
Mulled Wine and mince pies…tick
Cheesy Christmas songs…no tick! (Well, maybe just a few.)
Hangover…probably!
You really are guaranteed a fabulous time this December at The House. It’s the perfect venue for this time of year.
The House gets booked very early and quickly for dining in December.
If you would like to celebrate Christmas at The House an early enquiry is advised on 01273 321111 or email xmas@thehouserestaurant.co.uk
The first three confirmed bookings over 10 people quoting ‘HOUSEPARTYWITHLATEST7’ will receive a bottle of sparkles on the night to get the party started. Go on… give them a call.
The House Restaurant, 37 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HL, 01273 321111, www.thehouserestaurant.co.uk
The Foragers
“While many pubs are trying to serve up local grub with a seasonal twist, The Foragers have gone a step further… Several steps in fact.” – Mimi Spencer, The Observer.
Over the last seven years the team at this Hove gem have stubbornly stuck to their philosophy of using only the best local produce, and this commitment is still being acknowledged. The Foragers recently won Brighton and Hove Food & Drink award – Best Food Pub 2013, as well as Sussex Food & Drink Awards – Best Eating Experience 2011/12.
Over the festive period The Foragers aim to exceed expectations once more. Their superb Christmas menu for groups of six or more is great value at £28 per head (£33 including a complimentary glass of Prosecco).
This pub has been a trailblazer in both sustainability and fine pub grub, and is therefore a must for all.
The Foragers, 3 Stirling Place, Hove,
01273 733134, www.theforagerspub.co.uk
