Christmas get-togethers have a habit of becoming complicated. Someone wants a proper sit-down meal, someone else wants live music, someone’s planning to leave the car and, if kids are involved, Father Christmas might need to make an appearance too.
Longbow Venues has six spots dotted around the Peak District, each doing Christmas slightly differently this year. From big-band nights and festive tasting menus to open fires and breakfast with Santa, here are five reasons to consider heading out of Sheffield and into the Peaks for this year’s celebrations.
1. They take Santa seriously
Anyone organising Christmas with kids knows a decent Santa appearance can be surprisingly difficult to find. Longbow reckons it has one of the best around – and given its Santa events tend to sell out quickly, booking ahead would be sensible.
There are three different options this December. The Peacock at Owler Bar is hosting Breakfast with Santa on Sunday 6 and 13 December, 8–10am, while The Maynard in Grindleford has Afternoon Tea with Santa on the same dates from 12.30–2pm.
New for this year, The Charleston in Bakewell is joining in with Brunch with Santa on Saturday 19 December, 9–11am. Tickets cost £25 for adults and £12.50 for children.
2. There’s something for pretty much every gathering
The office Christmas do and a catch-up with a few mates are two very different beasts, so having options helps.
Private dining is available at The George, The Maynard, The Charleston and The Peacock at Rowsley, while those after something livelier can find nightly live music at The Charleston and weekly big-band nights at The Maynard.
Saturdays at The Peacock at Rowsley take things in another direction with a festive tasting menu. Over at The Peacock Owler Bar, it’s more about cosy lunches, open fires and finding a corner to settle into.
Then there’s The Ashford Arms, where you can combine lunch or dinner with a winter wander around Ashford-in-the-Water – a pretty solid way to spend a December afternoon.
3. The food isn’t an afterthought
We’ve all encountered a Christmas menu that feels like the usual fare with a sprig of holly stuck on top. However, Longbow’s festive menus get the same attention as its year-round food.
That means properly cooked turkey, crispy roast potatoes, plenty of gravy and, crucially, pigs in blankets worth arguing over. There are also plenty of gluten-free options available across the venues.
And with six different places to choose from, there’s nothing stopping you doing the festive rounds more than once.
4. You don’t have to go home afterwards
A Christmas party becomes considerably easier when nobody has to keep checking the time of the last train.
Hotel rooms are available at Longbow’s venues apart from The Charleston and The Peacock Owler Bar, meaning groups celebrating at The Maynard, The George, The Peacock Rowsley or The Ashford Arms can turn dinner and drinks into an overnight stay.
It also removes the dreaded designated-driver conversation from proceedings.
5. Great service from great people
A Christmas do is only as good as the people keeping the food coming, the glasses full and the whole thing moving along. Across its venues, Longbow puts plenty of emphasis on the teams behind the bar, in the kitchen and out front – particularly during the December rush.
There’s a nice detail to its approach, too. Every Longbow venue closes on Christmas Day, giving staff the day off to spend with family and friends after a month of Christmas lunches, parties and festive events.
It means the people bringing the energy, personality and festive spirit throughout December get to enjoy a bit of Christmas themselves, too. And when you’re choosing somewhere for the annual get-together, having a team that genuinely wants to be there goes a long way.
See what’s on offer and book your venue at longbowvenues.com
