Access Hospitality has published eight ways for UK hospitality venues and hotels to maximise revenue over Christmas 2026.

A strong base

The guide notes that like-for-like sales across pubs, restaurants and bars rose 2.9% year on year in the 2025 festive season, helped by an extended bank holiday run, according to RSM. For hotels, banqueting and conferencing revenue rose 11% in London and 5% across the rest of the UK.

Key dates

Drawing on its booking data, Access Hospitality highlights:

• 1 December, the most popular day of the year for creating bookings, so festive listings should be live beforehand;
• Thursdays in December, the best-performing booking day of the month;
• Christmas Day, with an average 50-day lead time, a 3pm peak sitting and 3.8 guests per booking;
• 28 to 31 December, which accounts for 61% of New Year's Eve table bookings, averaging 3.9 guests.

Operators are advised to analyse past festive booking and POS data to align staffing with these peaks.

Events as core revenue

From festive afternoon teas to silent discos, events are described as a core strategy rather than an extra. The guide notes DesignMyNight, part of Access Hospitality, reaches up to 3.9 million monthly users, and cites ResDiary data showing 42% of UK and Ireland operators planned more events in 2025, up from 25% in 2024.

Décor and visual appeal

Citing The Range, trends include retro 80s and 90s tinsel and bold baubles, jewel tones with gold, monochrome black and brushed gold for grown-up venues, and heirloom tablescapes with tartan and brass.

Instagrammable spaces

Guests share their experiences, so plating, décor and photography on social feeds and menus help festive offers stand out.

Takeaway

Early planning, data-led staffing and distinctive events give venues and hotel F&B outlets the best chance of capturing festive spend.

Originally published by Access Hospitality: Access Hospitality Shares 8 Ways to Maximise Christmas Revenue in 2026