Top Christmas Day lunches in Britain – from quintessential to quirky

One of the most joyous parts of Christmas Day is sitting down to a festive feast. While the classic roast dinner, piled high with all the trimmings, is arguably one of the most relished meals of the year in Britain, there are also some great Christmas lunches with an unexpected edge. Here are a few British destinations with both traditional and slightly quirkier festive menus on offer, for a Christmas culinary experience to remember.

London

Quintessential: Enjoy a traditional Christmas Day lunch at the luxurious Rosewood Hotel, Holborn. One of the finest five-star hotels in the capital, Rosewood are offering two different Christmas Day menus, one for each of their separate dining spaces. For Christmas Day 2019, Holborn Dining boasts lobster tart, wild sea bass, roast turkey and mandarin cheesecake as part of its set menu, while the equally decadent Mirror Room will serve up delicacies including confit duck, roast turkey, traditional Christmas pudding and a chocolate bauble for dessert. Both rooms come with live entertainment and a glass of champagne to make the experience extra special!

Prices: £170 per person for Holborn Dining and £210 to dine in the Mirror Room.

Quirky: Visitors looking for something a little different on 25 December can enjoy a German-inspired Christmas Day meal at the high-end eatery, German Gymnasium. Housed in London’s very first purpose built gym in London’s King Cross, the modern elegance of German Gymnasium is spread across a restaurant on the first floor in addition to two bars and an outdoor space. Diners can choose three courses of festive treats from a menu that includes beetroot cured salmon, octopus salad, grilled halibut and Schupfnudel (German dumplings) alongside roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Prices: £85 per person, with a glass of Sekt on arrival, mini stollen and a Christmas cracker.

Manchester

Quintessential: Formerly Mr Thomas’ Chop House, Mrs Sarah’s Chop House (which was recently renamed to honour the mother and daughter who ran it 100 years ago) offers the heaped plate of festive food that’s synonymous with Christmas lunch in Britain. Found in the heart of Manchester, this traditional pub has been left largely unchanged in both décor and offering, serving hearty British food in a scenic Victorian setting. Green and white tiles cover the walls while small glass lamps light the room, creating a cosy Christmas Day atmosphere. Their 2019 festive menu offers dishes including game terrine, roast turkey with pigs-in-blankets, stuffing and sprouts, traditional Christmas pudding and a glass of award-winning fizz on arrival.

Prices:  £85 per person, £35 for children

Quirky: Located just south of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Zouk is perfect for visitors looking to add some Indian/Pakistani flare to their festive feast. Want to start the day in style? Enjoy a special Christmas breakfast feast featuring dishes such as channa puri and seekh kebab, alongside turkey rashers and fresh kulcha bread. Alternatively, dig into a Christmas Day banquet of dishes such as samosa chaat, butter chicken and roast lamb, or savour a Christmas lunch tiffin, including lamb laziz, tarka daal and scrambled paneer, available throughout December.

Prices: The Christmas breakfast feast requires a minimum of eight guests, costing £8.50 per person. The Christmas Day banquet costs £35 per person. The Christmas lunch tiffin costs £12.50 per person.

Lake District

Quintessential: Based in the Craig Manor Hotel, Paisley’s is a cosy stone-clad eatery serving a traditional Christmas menu with wonderful surrounding views of Lake Windermere. The menu on Christmas Day includes beetroot and feta tart for starters, traditional turkey roast or salmon to follow and a Christmas pudding or British farmhouse cheese board for dessert.

Prices: £69 per person for lunch – must be booked in advance

Quirky: Keswick’s pan-Asian restaurant Mizu will be serving up a six-course Christmas Day menu with a twist. Promising all the trimmings and with some added eastern influence, it’s a great option for festive visitors to the Lake District looking for something a little different. Part of the Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, the restaurant’s chic setting fits the bill for a memorable Christmas meal.

Prices: £69 per person

Edinburgh

Quintessential: With stunning views of Edinburgh Castle, The Balmoral hotel’s restaurant Brasserie Prince by Alain Roux is the perfect spot for festive celebrations. Having served Christmas meals for 117 years, this high-end hotel knows how to do the holidays in style. Brasserie Prince is a chic, relaxed eatery with stylish French flair, accompanied by breath-taking views of the surrounding Edinburgh hills. For the festive menu on 25 December, expect champagne, salmon tartare, roast turkey and a ‘Princes’ Christmas pudding.

Prices: £145 per person, £75 for children under 12

Quirky: For a British Christmas Day feast with unexpected extras, why not get cosy at Prestonfield Hotel’s Rhubarb restaurant. One of the most opulent spots in Scotland, the venue aims to create a dining experience ‘where fairytales come to life’. Visitors can expect dramatic designs with rich colours, against a backdrop of romantic flickering candlelight. On Christmas Day tuck in to traditional turkey roast and Christmas pudding, as well as clam chowder, whisky-cured salmon, artichoke and truffle salad and rich dark chocolate mousse.

Prices: £135 per person