Struggling to find anywhere to eat out Christmas day -weird menus

[Sundaychiller]

We are flying on holiday Christmas night so don't want to cook but every menu we have looked at is either £120 plus each or not what I would call a traditional Christmas dinner (think onion bhajis for starter, lamb burgers, funky flavour gravy with turkey or cheap cuts of meat for £80 - £100 a head)(Leicestershire) Is anyone else having this problem? I really don't want to cook so getting desperate now! We don't mind about £80 each but not paying above this

If I were flying Christmas Day evening, I don’t think I would bother having a big meal, unless you are doing it for family. Lots of places do Christmas menus in the run up to Christmas, could you go then. We have pubs, restaurants, hotels and garden centres here that all do Christmas day menus.

Booths and Waitrose do pre order ready done Christmas food..
It doesn’t have to be Turkey.
I would order in some quality pre prepared food and have the full Xmas dinner on your return.

Just buy it from M&S.

Christmas dinners at a restaurant are not more expensive due to what you are eating , it's because people are working on an important ( for many ) family day / religious bank holiday and it is the cost of wages.
You could do a roast at home a few days before and plate up , cover with foil and then reheat. Or do a festive buffet . Or look about more and find somewhere that's doing a traditional Christmas lunch and be prepared to pay.

I’d check with local hotels. Some places do restaurant box with roast turkey and all the trimmings. We did it one year it worked out as £30 quid a head overall. Picked up food, it was still hot and ready to serve once we got it home.

"Just buy it from M&S."

Did you even bother to read the OP?

We always go out for a curry xmas day.
Might not be your thing though

I think they meant, buy every thing ready prepped to chuck in the oven, so no work and then you can chuck the roasting tins away afterwards and go on holiday, so little washing up too.

I agree about checking local hotels and traditional pubs in your area.

Have you looked at airport hotels near where you are flying from? They may do a trad UK Christmas dinner for foreign tourists and then you won't have far to travel to the gate.

Yes I did read it. Perhaps I should have added that is what I do and it's minimal work so would be cheaper and nicer than going out, but fine for traveling in the evening.

How about having Christmas Dinner on Christmas eve then a buffet lunch on Christmas Day.

I agree I’d just buy the pre prep veg from M&S it comes in baking trays so you just throw them away and no washing up after.

Eating out on Christmas Day is always going to be expensive or non-traditional, often both. If you want a roast, you could go on Christmas Eve, or many places have a festive themed offering for all of December for a fraction of the price.

Then I'd just get in some easy bung in the oven food and perhaps a treaty breakfast like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for Christmas Day itself.

Where are you flying from? Any of the airport hotels doing christmas meals?

I don't think I'd bother to be honest, get a take away!

Toby carvery is from £53 for 3 courses on xmas day and surely the logical first stop to check as they are home of the roast dinner.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, some good ideas. We can't go near the airport as there will be a couple of family members too

Where about son Leicestershire? Old bulls head in Woodhouse eves is always nice

If you are flying out on 25th, surely your holiday is more important? Why do you need the faff of an Xmas dinner? Just have a sandwich at home, or chuck a pizza in the oven. The whole point of flying on 25th December is to AVOID all the Xmas nonsense (I've done it - it's great!).

Have you checked all your local pubs?

Could you do a meal of nice cold cuts, olives, cherry tomatoes, cheese and nice bread etc, on posh paper plates so no washing up? Or really nice party food that just requires placing a tray in the oven and ignoring it until a timer goes off?

We're going to a pub this year, I'll probably be in the middle of cancer treatment at Christmas so I wanted to make the decision now while we're able to book somewhere. It's not something you can decide to do last minute. The menu has the traditional soup, turkey and Christmas pudding options and a few less traditional options. It's £74.99 for the courses.

It's never going to be the same meal you'd cook at home.

I have looked at loads of pubs, not many have announced anything yet. For those saying pizza, cold cuts etc. We always go away Christmas and it’s horrible missing Christmas Day after the build up (we flew 10am las year) so we have deliberately booked a 9pm flight this year. We definitely want a Christmas dinner.
Thanks for your help again so far

A couple of popular pubs near us were already fully booked without advertising, just people putting themselves on a list. It's getting late to book now.

Have a look of there's a Chef and Brewer pub near you. a Vintage Inns pub, or another of the more upmarket chains. It won't be the same as a local independent but I'm guessing they're all booked up now anyway. Even my local very very expensive hotel that has huge capacity in its function rooms and restaurant is fully booked.

Vintage Inn near us is awful, had a terrible December festive menu meal once.
Looks like I will be cooking!
Oh well plenty of time to rest on our 13 hour flight after! 😂

If anyone can suggest any good ready prepped food or shortcuts I would be grateful!

Local pubs near me. (Nottingham) just do the traditional turkey stuff.