What you’re doing: Christmas special

Christmas in hospitality this year will be all about adding value to your services so you attract – and keep – new customers, while at the same time keeping your costs down. If you’re stuck for ideas as to how to go about doing this, take a look at what some of your peers are up to.

Entertain… with a Chinese Elvis

The Drunken Monkey, an Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in Shoreditch, is taking advantage of its new event space to add that extra twist to Christmas parties and corporate soirées.

The private space, which fits 50 people standing and is accessible via a “hidden stairway” leading down from the restaurant, will provide a variety of entertainment options to Christmas customers, including quizzes, casino facilities and a Chinese Elvis who will serenade lucky guests.

A projector, DJ booth and adjoining ‘concubine’ rooms could also provide various versatile entertainment options for Christmas fun.

Supper club with beds

Private dining space and live entertainment will also be the hook at The Brickhouse supper club on Brick Lane in London.

The venue, which is moving into the corporate market for the first time this Christmas, is enticing business clients with its mix of performance space and “chill out” areas. With a total capacity of 300, the space is spread across three levels, with the central stage being visible from each floor.

Diners will have various degrees of privacy or comfort, ranging from the 54-cover mezzanine area to the cordoned-off 10-seater Royal Box. The upper-level Bed Bar comes equipped with white beds for guests to “socialize, relax or dance on”.

Shop while you nibble

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is inviting its Christmas guests to enjoy a drink and nibbles while conducting some last minute Italian-inspired shopping. Up for sale will be items such as Parma hams, olive oil, pastas and festive regional gifts.

The Discount Christmas Shopping Evenings will be held at Carluccio’s venues nationwide from 6-9pm on the first two Thursdays of December. Guests will be offered a glass of vino cotto accompanied by a variety of canapés, together with a 10 per cent discount on all purchases of the night.

Decadent December

Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel is putting on a month of more classical Christmas entertainment, following its £20m refurbishment.

The hotel is closing off its grand ballroom for Christmas party nights throughout the month of December, offering guests a package including a “decadent” three-course meal, live entertainment and a disco.

Other dates in the diary include: a Festive Lunch followed by an afternoon disco; a charity dinner with live entertainment; a Christmas day dinner with children under five served for free; and an “informal” New Year’s dinner.