Gloucestershire Christmas party guide

Find the perfect venue for your Christmas party in Gloucestershire, with SoGlos.com’s 2009 guide to festive celebrations in Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Gloucester and Stroud.

Gloucestershire plays host to an array of Christmas party venues, and whether you’re looking for the perfect setting for your office’s festive celebration, somewhere for the whole family to get together or a venue befitting of a merry gathering of a few friends, you’re sure to find it with SoGlos.com’s 2009 guide.

Plan the perfect Christmas party, with the following Gloucestershire venues all highly recommended.

Cheltenham Christmas parties 2009

Venue: The Daffodil
On the menu: There is an enticingly eclectic Christmas party menu at The Daffodil, including luxurious highlights such as roast pigeon breast with stilton cream mushrooms to start; cumin roasted monkfish, scallop potatoes and champagne butter sauce or roasted turkey wrapped in pancetta with cranberry stuffing for the main course; and iced pear parfait with kirsch cherries for dessert.
SoGlos.com loves: As if the tantalising festive menu and decadent art deco surroundings were not enough, every Wednesday evening in December The Daffodil will also be filled with the sounds of a live jazz band for an unparalleled party atmosphere – starting with champagne and canapés, the decadent dinner dances include a three-course festive meal, plenty of dancing and a goody bag to take home, all for £40 per person.
Dates: The Daffodil’s Christmas party menu is available throughout December 2009
How much?: The Christmas party menu costs £30 per person, including teas and coffees with mince pies, as well as crackers and novelties.
To book: Call The Daffodil on (01242) 700055, or visit thedaffodil.com directly, for more information.

Venue: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham Bistro
On the menu: A modern twist on British and European traditional Christmas menus, Hotel du Vin’s Bistro in Montpellier will be serving sophisticated selections including parfait of chicken livers and foie gras, toasted brioche and grape chutney; pave of cod with cabbage and bacon; and fig and almond tart with mascarpone ice cream, for example.
SoGlos.com loves: The specially-priced Christmas party bedrooms at Hotel du Vin cost from £99, meaning you won’t have to worry about stumbling home after one too many glasses of vintage bubbly.
Dates: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham’s festive menu is available from Monday 23 November to Thursday 24 December 2009
How much?: The festive three-course menu costs £35 per person, for a minimum of six people per booking.
To book: Call Hotel du Vin on (01242) 588450, or visit hotelduvin.com for more information.

Venue: Spice Lodge
On the menu: Christmas gets a fiery kick at Spice Lodge in Cheltenham, with a choice of three banqueting menus and two a la carter options inspired by India and Thailand.
SoGlos.com loves: The turkey kalapiri, roasted in a chaly oven and served with aloo jeera hara dhonia and classic onion sauce, will be a popular choice for traditionalists with a twist – bringing an exotic take on a Christmas classic.
Dates: Spice Lodge’s festive menus are available throughout December 2009
How much?: The banqueting menus range from £20 to £27.95 per person perfect for groups, with the a la carte three course menu costing £29.95 or £34.95.
To book: Call Spice Lodge on (01242) 226300, or visit spicelodge.com for more information.

Venue: Apres
On the menu: Party goers at Apres at The Brewery in Cheltenham will be able to tuck into a buffet menu during the day or evening including mini pizzas cooked in the applewood oven, tortilla wraps, mini fish and chips, and mince pies; or for a sitdown meal the choices include chicken liver pâté with melba toast and onion marmalade; paupiette of turkey with sage and onion stuffing or daube of beef with a whisky and peppercorn sauce; followed by steamed chocolate pudding or New York vanilla cheesecake.
SoGlos.com loves: For a credit-crunch-proof Christmas celebration, hit Apres during its famous happy hour, from 3pm to 8pm, when some of the most generous drinks deals in Cheltenham will guarantee the festive get-togethers are a very merry occasion indeed.
Dates: Throughout December
How much?: The buffet menu costs £11.95 per person for parties of ten or more, while the sitdown meal costs £13.95 for lunch and £18.95 for dinner, per person.
To book: Call Apres on (01242) 225535, or visit apresbars.com for more information.

Venue: Matcham's Bistro
On the menu: The Everyman Theatre’s Matcham’s Bistro will be serving a traditional Christmas menu in its dedicated restaurant, which includes leek and onion potato rosti with bacon lardons to start; roast turkey with cranberry gravy, stuffing balls and sausages wrapped in bacon as a main course option; with with Christmas pudding and custard a traditional end to the meal.
SoGlos.com loves: Arriving early for a pre-show supper means that a special festive evening can be completed with the chance to see a performance of The Everyman’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty, oh yes it will, for after dinner entertainment with a festive difference.
Dates: The Christmas menu at Matcham’s Bistro is available throughout December 2009 and January 2010
How much?: The two course festive menu costs £15.95, and £18.95 for three courses.
To book: Call Matcham's on (01242) 572532, or visit everymantheatre.org.uk for more information.

Gloucester Christmas parties 2009

Venue: The Wharf House
On the menu: Highlights from the festive menu include duck liver and cranberry pate with Cumberland sauce and toasted onion bread to start; Herefordshire beef with beetroot gratin dauphinoise and green peppercorn sauce as a main course; followed by rocket and raspberry jelly with cracked black pepper ice cream for dessert.
SoGlos.com loves: Turkey is officially banned once again at The Wharf House and instead diners can expect to find a carefully-selected festive menu including the unusual and innovative as well as traditional-with-a-twist dishes.
Dates: The Wharf House’s festive menu is available from Sunday 1 November 2009 to Sunday 31 January 2010 inclusive
Cost: For groups of 8+ people the three-course menu costs £18.95 for lunch, £27.95 for dinner Sunday to Thursday, and £33.95 for dinner on Friday and Saturday with a glass of prosecco on arrival.
To book: Call (01452) 332900, visit thewharfhouse.co.uk or email thewharfhouse@yahoo.co.uk directly.

Venue: The Spiegeltent, Kings Square, Gloucester, GL1 1SH
On the menu: Highlights from the festive party menu include winter vegetable and pearl barley broth with crusty bloomers; whole rare roast topside of beef served on wooden boards with a carving knife on each table, accompanied by jugs of gravy, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables; followed by treacle tart and clotted cream.
SoGlos.com loves: Draped with red velvet, with stained glass and dark woods, the traditional Belgian spiegeltent is a lavish and very fitting setting for a festive celebration to remember. As well as eating, drinking and being very merry indeed, the special Christmas parties will also feature entertainment and dancing.
Dates: The special Christmas party nights take place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2009
Cost: Tickets are £39.95 per person and include a three course meal, cabaret entertainment and dancing.
To book: Call (01452) 207020, visit christmasingloucester.co.uk or email info@marketinggloucester.co.uk directly.

Venue: Hatherley Manor
On the menu: Party-goers can tuck into winter vegetable and lentil soup or smoked salmon and trout mousse; traditional honey roast Gloucestershire turkey or bean pot topped with Cotswold Blue brie soufflé; followed by blackberry and orange cheesecake or English plum pudding with brandy cream.
SoGlos.com loves: Hatherley Manor’s evening parties include a disco with the chance boogie on the dance floor guaranteed to burn-off the mince pies. There’s also themed tribute nights featuring entertainers as varied as Robbie Williams, Motown and Abba being held for a festive celebration with a difference.
Dates: Hatherley Manor’s festive parties run from Friday 20 November 2009 to Saturday 31 January 2010, private hire is available throughout the festive season
Cost: Hatherley Manor’s party menus range in price from £19.99 to £35 per person
To book: Call (01452) 730217, visit hatherleymanor.com or email reservations@hatherleymanor.com for more information.

Venue: The Oliver Cromwell Paddlewheeler
On the menu: Both a served- and buffet-menu are available at The Paddlewheeler Parties, including smoked salmon and champagne roulade with rocket salad to start; roast turkey with stuffing and pigs in blankets or brie and redcurrant tart for the main course; and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce to finish off the festive meal in traditional style.
SoGlos.com loves: Moored at Gloucester Docks not only is the venue unique, but the option to book out the entire boat for a private group celebration or join in on one of the open house Christmas parties will appeal to a wide array of party organisers.
Dates: Groups can book any Tuesday to Friday from 8 to 18 December 2009, while smaller groups and couples can join in with The Oliver Cromwell Paddlewheeler’s house parties on Saturdays 12 and Saturday 19 December 2009.
Cost: Prices start from £19 per person for a buffet lunch; £24 for a served lunch; £25 for a buffet dinner; or served dinner for £32.
To book: Call (01452) 410411, visit oliver-cromwell-paddle-wheeler.co.uk or email info@oliver-cromwell-paddle-wheeler.co.uk.

Venue: Bowden Hall Hotel
On the menu: Bowden Hall’s Ice White parties feature a menu including: beetroot cured salmon gravadlax, with
roasted baby beetroot salad; traditional roast turkey carvery, bacon-wrapped chipolatas, sage, chestnut and apricot stuffing, with lashings of cranberry sauce; followed by decadent white chocolate and Baileys cheesecake.
SoGlos.com loves: As well as the popular Ice White parties, Bowden Hall will be hosting not one but two different themed tribute nights this Christmas – a 60s showcase with entertainment from the Two Beatles and Mamma Mia: a showcase of the 70s.
Dates: The Ice White themed parties take place at Bowden Hall on Friday 4, Saturday 5, Thursday 10, Friday 11, Saturday 12, Thursday 17, Friday 18, and Saturday 19 December 2009; the 60s showcase take place on Friday 11, Saturday 12, and Thursday 17 December 2009; and the 70s showcase takes place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December 2009.
Cost: The Ice White parties cost £29.50 per person; the 60s showcase costs £31 per person; and the 70s showcase costs £33 per person.
To book: Call 0844 815 9077, visit ramadajarvis.co.uk/bowdenhall or email csales.bowdenhall@jarvis.co.uk.

Venue: Coots Cafe Bar
On the menu: A tasty hot and cold buffet will be served at Coots Cafe Bar’s Christmas casino nights, held at the modern venue in Gloucester Docks.
SoGlos.com loves: There’s a chance to hit the roulette table or try your hand at cards at Coots’ casino night, adding a certain glamour, and James Bond flair, to a festive night out in Gloucester.
Dates: Christmas parties will be held throughout December 2009, with private hire also available.
Cost: The price of the hot and cold buffet, as well as casino entertainment, is £24.95 per person.
To book: Call (01452) 318227 or email christmas@cwpcsl.co.uk.

Stroud Christmas parties 2009

Venue: Cotswolds88Hotel
On the menu: The marvellously eccentric Cotswolds88 Hotel in Painswick will be tempting party-goers from across Stroud with its good value menu, which includes highlights such as butternut squash veloute with parmesan and capers; roast bronze turkey with sprouts and chestnut puree or fillet of sea bass with celeriac and chive puree for the main course; followed by egg custard tart with poached plums and plum sorbet
SoGlos.com loves: Start your celebration in style with one of Cotswolds88Hotel’s signature cocktails. As well as sampling a classic Tom Collins, mojito or bellini in the intimate bar, give the hotel’s Cotswolds Cosmopolitan a try or blackberry and champagne crush.
How much?: The party menu costs £29.95 per person
To book: Call Cotswolds88Hotel on (01452) 813688, or visit cotswolds88hotel.com directly, for more information.

If you would like your venue to be included in SoGlos.com’s Gloucestershire Christmas party guide, contact James Fryer on (01242) 210330 or email james@soglos.com.

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