Worried about deposits, pre-orders and shrinking headcounts for your group? Good Christmas party restaurant planning means booking early, reading the terms, and locking in menus and numbers before the venue’s deadlines.
This page is part of a wider guide to restaurant event planning.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Young’s party deposit | £10 per person |
| Young’s deposit refund window | Fully refundable up to 28 days before the booking date |
| Young’s discretionary service charge | 12.5% for parties of four or more |
| Prezzo Christmas party set menu | 2 courses from £23.95 or 3 courses from £28.95 per person |
| Prezzo online party booking limit | Up to 29 people |
| Prezzo early-booking lead booker voucher | Up to £100 for booking by Sunday 15th November 2026 |
These figures come from Young’s Christmas booking terms and Prezzo’s Christmas party page. Terms and prices can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
When to book your Christmas party
Restaurants run Christmas menus in a set window, so your date decides your options. ASK Italian’s Christmas page lists its festive menu from 17th November 2026 until 4th January 2027. Café Rouge lists 19th November to 5th January, excluding Christmas Day.
Booking early can also earn a perk. Prezzo’s page said that a lead booker who booked by Sunday 15th November 2026, for dining between 10th November 2026 and 5th January 2027, could receive a voucher worth £25 for groups of up to 9, £50 for groups of 10-19, or £100 for groups of 20 or more, as Prezzo’s Christmas party page sets out. Check whether any offer like this is still open before you plan around it.
ASK Italian listed an early bird deal too: 3 courses for £24.95 when dining between 17th November and 6th December, valid on parties of 6+.
Group size shapes how you book. Prezzo says you can book parties of up to 29 people online, and ASK Italian asks larger parties to send an enquiry, aiming to reply within 24 hours (sources linked above).
Deposits, cancellations and service charges
Most venues take a per-person deposit to confirm a party. Here are three examples from their own terms:
- Young’s asks for £10 per person for party bookings.
- Café Rouge asks for £5pp on Christmas Party menu bookings, including children.
- ASK Italian sends a link to pre-authorise a £5 deposit per head for tables of 8 or more.
The refund window differs by venue. Young’s says its deposit is fully refundable up to 28 days before the booking date, and the deposit comes off your final bill (Young’s terms). Café Rouge refunds only if you change your mind more than 14 days before you dine, but within 14 days it will move your booking to a date within 3 months (Café Rouge terms).
Falling numbers can cost you. Young’s says a reduction in guest numbers within 10 days may still be charged at the agreed menu price per person, and Café Rouge says it cannot part refund deposits if your party shrinks (sources linked above).
Budget for the service charge as well. Young’s adds a discretionary 12.5% to parties of four or more guests, as its terms state (Young’s terms).
Pre-orders, menus and dietary needs
Big tables run smoother when the kitchen knows each person’s choice in advance. Deadlines vary, so note them the day you book:
- Young’s sends an online ordering link 10 days in advance, and menu choices can be amended up to 5 working days before (Young’s terms).
- Café Rouge requires a pre-order no later than 72 hours before your dine date (Café Rouge terms).
- ASK Italian recommends large groups pre-order and says it will not offer a buffet (ASK Italian FAQs).
Collect dietary needs early. Trade advice in Bar & Kitchen magazine suggests venues double check allergies a few days before the party, so have your list ready for them.
Prezzo lists vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices on its Christmas menu, with its set menu from £23.95 for 2 courses (Prezzo’s Christmas party page). Ask any venue you shortlist for the allergen details before you book.
Drinks and space: what to ask for
Drinks can swell a bill quickly, so ask about pre-ordered drinks. Prezzo’s bundles listed a glass of prosecco on arrival for £5.00, a cocktail on arrival for £7.00 and bottles of beer for £3.75 (Prezzo’s Christmas party page).
Bar & Kitchen magazine advises venues to let large groups pre-order at least the first round, or set up a pre-paid bar tab. It also suggests iced buckets of beer and wine on tables and cocktails in jugs so guests can help themselves (Bar & Kitchen magazine).
If you want a quieter evening, ask about a private or semi-private area. Prezzo says selected restaurants offer private dining, semi-private areas and exclusive hire, and ASK Italian says a number of its restaurants have private dining rooms and semi-private spaces.
One caution: Young’s says that if guest numbers reduce significantly, the venue reserves the right to move your party to a more appropriate area (Young’s terms).
A simple countdown for your group
Work backwards from the date and write each venue’s deadlines into the group chat. Here is a sequence that fits the terms above:
- Shortlist venues and check their Christmas menu dates, group size limits and private space options.
- Book and pay the deposit, then note the refund cut-off, such as 28 days at Young’s or more than 14 days at Café Rouge.
- Send the menu to your group and collect choices and dietary needs.
- Confirm final numbers, which Young’s asks for 10 days before the booking date.
- Finish amendments by the venue’s cut-off, for example 5 working days before at Young’s.
- Settle up on the day, allowing for the service charge and any extras not pre-ordered.
If the evening also marks a birthday, these birthday meal at a restaurant ideas may help. If you are organising for colleagues, read how to plan a work dinner for more on the team side.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit should I expect to pay?
Show answer
The examples above range from £5 to £10 per person. Young’s asks for £10 per person, Café Rouge £5pp and ASK Italian a £5 deposit per head for tables of 8 or more, so check your venue’s terms.
Can I reduce my numbers close to the date?
Show answer
It depends on the venue. Young’s says a reduction within 10 days may still be charged at the agreed menu price per person, and Café Rouge does not part refund deposits if numbers fall.
Can I book a large Christmas party online?
Show answer
Prezzo says you can book parties of up to 29 people online. ASK Italian invites larger party enquiries and aims to reply within 24 hours.
Will there be a buffet?
Show answer
Not at ASK Italian, which says it will not offer a buffet style service and recommends large groups pre-order. Other venues set their own formats, so ask when you book.
