Catch up with Christmas: the 2021 party season

Last year’s Christmas holidays were so bizarre, you’d be forgiven for hedging your bets and leaving your plans for 2021 a little later than usual. Happily London is very obliging when it comes to satisfying a last–minute get together – whether it’s with family, friends, work colleagues or even a corporate dinner. And it doesn’t have to be a traditional affair, either.

So whether you favour big festive parties or private dining, here are some of the options on offer.

True to its multicultural heart, you can eat your way around the world in just 8 days without ever leaving Central London, thanks to the diverse cuisines on offer. For the truly adventurous there is always Archipelago in Fitzrovia. It’s got Golden Buddhas and palm trees, but its undoubted USP is the global cuisine of crocodile and ostrich… Python carpaccio and jerk alpaca, anyone? 53 Cleveland St, W1.

If you have children, you could try the Rainforest Cafe, close to Piccadilly Circus and the West End’s theatres and shops. It’s a family restaurant that aims to entertain the youngsters with the sound of waterfalls, lightening and rain – and real tropical fish. It’s child friendly, offering a kids’ menu and activity packs. 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1.

Or how about tucking into tapas, surrounded by the gorgeous, burnished decor of the Aqua Nueva restaurant, with its stunning rooftop terrace overlooking Regent Street and the West End lights. 240 Regent Street (entrance 30 Argyll St) W1.

Alternatively, the glamorous restaurant, Bob Bob Ricard serves British–Russian dishes that can be eaten in private booths, within art deco surroundings. There are even buttons that invite you to “press for champagne,” which sounds just right for a Christmas extravaganza. Parties of 9 to 18 guests are accommodated in the private dining rooms. 122 Leadenhall Street, City of London EC3.

By midweek you might long for the Far East, in which case, head for Inamo  in Covent Garden. Anything but traditional, this beguiling eatery embraces technology as well as good food. Interact with psychedelic tabletop projections via games, graffiti, a chef–cam to the kitchen, and uploads. Place your orders using a tablet; and then there’s the food… a pan–Asian sharing, tasting menu, including 20 vegetarian and 13 vegan dishes. Said to be ideal for a first date, family meals with children, or a memorable Christmas get–together. And there’s a sister restaurant in Soho. 11-14 Hanover Place, Covent Garden and 134-136 Wardour St, Soho.

Next you might move on to the Aster Restaurant in Victoria which features ‘Midnight in Paris’ as its Christmas theme. This relaxed yet sophisticated French brasserie has partnered with Beluga Vodka to offer a cocktail menu designed to make you feel like you’ve been parachuted into the City of Light. Private dining too.150 Victoria Street SW1.

When it comes to a big celebration, Hawksmoor definitely ticks all the right boxes. Their Guildhall branch is reminiscent of an old-school gentleman’s club, with some of the best steaks the capital has to offer, not to mention the extensive cocktail menu. Hawksmoor Borough offers a sumptuous private dining room for a more intimate setting – housed in a former fruit warehouse opposite Borough Market, it is conveniently surrounded by its suppliers. Hawksmoor Guildhall, 10-12 Basinghall St EC2 and Hawksmoor Borough, 16 Winchester Walk SE1.

Brunswick House, Pimlico has something for everyone. It’s a former Georgian mansion that is the setting for Jackson Boxer’s acclaimed restaurant. Its many rooms can be hired privately, from intimate parlours to vaulted cellars and terraces. Antiques everywhere. Augustan eye–candy for an impressive party. Seats 6–110 Brunswick House, Pimlico SW8.

If it’s True Brit you’re after, try The Jugged Hare, next to the Barbican Centre (where Chiswell St and Silk St meet). It’s a City of London favourite which genuinely uses antlers in all its decorating. Part of the old Grade II listed Whitbread Brewery, The Jugged Hare offers good food and wine and four British cask ales. It’s just the ticket if you like quality meat and wine, with lots of festive plates and seasonal warmth. The Brewery, 49 Chiswell St EC1.

The more eccentric side of British life comes via Darcie & May Green, a delightful choice for a Christmas meal: it’s a canal boat with a Sergeant Pepper/Peter Blake look to its fun exterior. On offer are seasonal specials, trad roasts and Boxing Day brunches. Grand Union Canal, Sheldon Square Central W2.

On the other side of the capital (near Liverpool Street Station) Devonshire Terrace promises its visitors a special Christmas lunch, catering for private dining (with private balconies) and also big venue hire. Plus snug heated terraces. Devonshire Square, EC2.

By the end of the week you might be ready for truly cross–cultural cuisine in the shape of Ayllu in Paddington. Warm dark green decor and Peruvian–Japanese fusion dishes (ceviche, sushi and sashimi sharing plates). There’s also a tasting menu which promises a “culinary journey” on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm–5pm as part of a “free flowing” brunch with prosecco. 25 Sheldon Square, W2.

Your Friday night dinner could just as easily take place on the Regent’s Canal via the London Shell Co aboard The Prince Regent. A candle lit journey on the water, offering seasonal seafood and paired wines. Seats 40. Regent’s Canal at Paddington, W2.

But if you crave a room with a view for your get together, then Blue Orchid Hotels overlooks some of the best scenery in London. On offer are exclusive private venues ranging from classic high–ceilinged Edwardian grandeur to contemporary, purpose–built flexible events centres. 

Tower Suites’ 50 metre Skyline roof terrace overlooks the Tower of London and the Thames, as do all its boutique apartments, providing unforgettable views of the city.

Blue Orchid Hotels can be found on green and peaceful Westminster squares (close by Buckingham Palace and Green Park) as well as historic monuments like the Tower of London. Also on offer are private gardens, spas, gyms – everything for a perfect Christmas getaway in London, or a large party or corporate event. 

Just a stone’s throw from Blue Orchid’s Tower Suites is St Paul’s Cathedral which also happens to have some remarkable venues for hire: the Wren suite makes for a memorable drinks reception or dinner; while the crypt of St Paul’s is the largest in Europe and can seat 250 guests for a sit down meal, or 350 for a reception - and it happens to be the final resting place for Sir Christopher Wren, Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.

So even if you’ve been more of a tortoise than a hare when it comes to planning for a night out with friends or colleagues, or if you’ve been putting off that intimate Christmas escape, London has plenty to offer even your greatest expectation.