Gloucestershire Christmas party guide

Find the perfect venue for your Christmas party in Gloucestershire, with SoGlos.com’s 2011 guide to festive celebrations in Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

Gloucestershire plays host to a cracking array of Christmas party venues, so whether you’re looking for the perfect setting for your office party, friends’ festive celebrations or somewhere for the whole family to get together, you’re sure to find it with SoGlos.com’s 2011 guide.

Plan the perfect Christmas party, with the following hand-picked Gloucestershire venues all coming highly recommended by the SoGlos.com team.

Cheltenham Christmas parties 2011

Venue: Ellenborough Park
On the menu: Menu highlights include starters of pressed terrine of seafood with saffron mayonnaise and sakura cress, and honey glazed loin of pork with parsnip puree and apple and sage dressing; for main course there’s traditional roast Norfolk turkey with festive trimmings, and braised blade of Herefordshire cross beef with a horseradish crust and wild mushrooms; with desserts including vanilla panna cotta with spiced poached pear or dark chocolate and rum delice with rum and raisin sorbet.
SoGlos.com loves: This will be Ellenborough Park’s first Christmas, and guests dining or staying at the luxurious hotel over the festive period can expect unparalleled service, elegant touches and a lavish style, which the venue has quickly become known for.
Dates: Ellenborough is running Christmas lunch parties from Monday to Friday throughout December, available in The Beaufort Dining Room and private dining rooms for parties of 8, 12 or 16. While Christmas party nights are also available throughout the festive season in Ellenborough’s private dining and banqueting rooms.
How much: Christmas lunch parties cost £40 per person, excluding wine, while Christmas party nights are priced at £50 per person Monday to Thursday and £55 per person Fridays and Saturdays, including champagne, crackers, place cards and more.
How about Christmas day?: Ellenborough Park is offering a very special 2011 Christmas package, with guests arriving on Christmas Eve and departing the day after Boxing Day, including Christmas Day lunch and much more. Contact the venue directly for full details and availability.
To book: Call Ellenborough Park on (01242) 545454, email dining@ellenboroughpark.com or visit ellenboroughpark.com for full information and menu choices.

Venue: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham Bistro
On the menu: The early bird and celebration menus each include a carefully selected choice of courses. SoGlos.com’s favourite three-courses on the early bird menu are the treacle cured salmon with blinis and horseradish cream to start; for main the chargrilled dry aged onglet with Cafe de Paris butter; and for dessert chocolate fondant with pistachio ice-cream. On the celebration menu our top choices are leek and Roquefort tart with apple and chicory salad to start; for main the pan-fried sea bass with cod brandade and lobster jus; and a dessert of traditional sherry trifle.
SoGlos.com loves: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham Bistro’s festive menus include plenty of classic choices. And this being a consistently great eating out venue, festive diners can rest assured it’ll more than live up to high expectations.
Dates: The early bird menu is available at set times from Monday 21 November to Tuesday 6 December 2011, and again from Monday 2 to Tuesday 31 January 2012. The celebration menu, meanwhile, is available from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 24 December 2011.
How much: The early bird menu costs £17.50 for two courses, £22.50 for three courses, while the celebration menu costs from £35 per person.
How about Christmas day?: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham will once again be tempting diners with its Christmas Day menu, featuring mouthwatering classic dishes, costing from £75 per person. Contact the venue directly for full information and availability.
To book: Call Hotel du Vin Cheltenham Bistro on (01242) 588450, email info.cheltenham@hotelduvin.com or visit hotelduvin.co.uk/hotels/cheltenham for full information and menus.

Venue: The Restaurant at Cowley Manor
On the menu: Cowley Manor’s head chef has crafted a carefully-selected choice of courses for 2011 Christmas celebrations. Starter highlights include the ham hock terrine with homemade piccalilli, and Cowley-cured gravadlax with chive crème fraiche; mains take in free range turkey with chestnut stuffing and all the trimmings, or butternut squash and sage risotto with root vegetable crisps and port reduction; while diners can also plump for puddings including Cowley Manor’s own Christmas pudding with brandy and vanilla cream, or the chocolate and orange mousse with vanilla ice-cream and caramalised hazelnuts. Finished off with tea, coffee and mince pies.
SoGlos.com loves: Cowley Manor is offering special Christmas party rates from £175 per room, from Sunday through to Thursday, inclusive of breakfast, for those who want to make the most of the festive fun.
Dates: The special festive menu will be available from Sunday 20 November 2011 until Christmas.
How much: The lunch menu costs £27.50 per person, and the dinner menu £32.50 per person – both available for bookings of 6 guests or more.
How about Christmas day?: Open to hotel guests and non-residents alike on Christmas Day, Cowley’s Manor is offering a decadent festive menu costing £69 per person. Contact the venue directly for full information and availability.
To book: Call Cowley Manor on (01242) 870900, email stay@cowleymanor.com or visit cowleymanor.com for full information and menus.

Venue: The Montpellier Chapter Restaurant
On the menu: The festive December menu is full of seasonal favourites. Starter choices include chicken liver parfait with Cumberland sauce, or smoked fish and dill terrine with potato salad; for main course there’s turkey with bacon and sausage roll, cranberry and bread sauce, and fillet of salmon with braised leek and bacon with chive cream; while desserts include the Christmas Eton mess, and stilton with walnut bread. Plus, the featured Simon Hopkinson dish of the month – venison cutlet with celeriac puree and sauce poivrade – will also be available.
SoGlos.com loves: On Sundays in December they will be a traditional roast and the chance for children to listen to one of Santa’s elves reading Christmas stories.
Dates: The seasonal á la carte menu is available throughout December for lunch and early dinner. Festive Sunday lunches will be on offer.
How much: The seasonal á la carte menu costs £12.95 for two courses, £15 for three, served between 12pm and 2.30pm, 6pm and 7pm.
How about Christmas Day?: A traditional lunch, open fires and board games will all be on offer on Sunday 25 December 2011. The special celebration menu costs £75 per person or £35 for children under 12. Free of charge for children under three.
To book: Call The Montpellier Chapter on (01242) 266708, email montpellier@chapterhotels.com or visit themontpellierchapterhotel.com for full information and a Christmas brochure.

Venue: Spice Lodge
On the menu: A veritable feast of acclaimed Indian and Thai cuisine can be enjoyed at Spice Lodge this Christmas, with three different menus including plenty of favourites as well as a few more unusual choices. Starters take in poppadoms, prawn crackers and chutneys, with chicken satay, crab and cod cake, and Tandoori lamb chop also making an appearance; for main course the menus include chicken tikka masala (naturally!), Thai green chicken curry, Kashmiri lamb and many more choices – complimented by pilau rice and naan bread; while diners can plump for desserts such as gulab jamun or kulfi.
SoGlos.com loves: The chance to ditch traditional festive fare in favour of one of the nation’s favourite dishes, with Spice Lodge enjoying a great reputation as an ideal venue for parties of all sizes.
Dates: The Christmas menus are available from November through to the end of December.
How much: Menu 1 includes three courses and is priced at £19.95 per person, menu 2 includes four courses and is priced at £24.95 per person, while menu 3 includes five courses and is priced at £34.95 per person.
To book: Call Spice Lodge on (01242) 226300, email dine@spicelodge.com or visit spicelodge.com directly.

Venue: The Parrot Bar and Grill
On the menu: A confidently succinct choice of Christmas courses are on offer, with starters including chicken terrine and parma ham with smoked onion chutney or salmon gravalax scented with Lapsang Souchong tea alongside caper berries and lemon; for the main course don’t miss the local Cotswold 8oz sirloin with potato rosti, wild mushrooms, seared cherry tomatoes and brandy and peppercorn sauce, as well as the Cotswold free range turkey crown with white wine gravy, chestnut stuffing and all the trimmings; finishing with sweet choices including a trio of chocolate desserts with homemade vanilla pod ice-cream, or poached pears with a Poire William liqueur caramel sauce.
SoGlos.com loves: This Christmas will be The Parrot’s first under new management and with an extensive refurbishment under its belt. Expect well-priced great things from this town centre haunt.
Dates: Available throughout the festive season. Contact the venue directly for full details.
How much: The Christmas dinner menu costs £24.90 per person.
How about Christmas day?: To be confirmed.
To book: Call The Parrot Bar and Grill on (01242) 526965, email bookings@theparrotbar.com or visit theparrotbar.com for full information and menu choices.

Gloucester Christmas parties 2011

Venue: The Wharf House
On the menu: As is The Wharf House’s tradition, turkey has been banned from the menu for another year running, and instead guests can expect a special lunch or dinner menu brimming with alternative festive delights. Starter highlights include the chicken and basil terrine wrapped in cured ham, and marinated herrings with grapefruit and avocado salad; main course choices include loin of local venison rolled in walnut with redcurrant sauce with a hint of chocolate, or the chicken filled with wild mushrooms and brie with a parsnip mash; while desserts include apple strudel with cinnamon ice-cream, or glazed fig with The Wharf House ice-cream on a tuile basket.
SoGlos.com loves: As well as enjoying some of the finest festive food Gloucester has to offer, diners will also be contributing to the restoration of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal. That extra glass of wine never tasted so good!
Dates: Christmas menus are available from Tuesday 1 November 2011 to Tuesday 31 January 2012
How much: The lunch menu costs £18.99 per person, and the dinner menu £28.99 per person – both available for groups of eight people or more.
How about Christmas day?: The Wharf House is closed on Christmas Day.
To book: Call The Wharf House on (01452) 332900, email thewharfhouse@yahoo.co.uk or visit thewharfhouse.co.uk for full information and menu choices.

Venue: Cafe Rene
On the menu: Christmas customers can expect a hearty home-cooked five-course menu at this popular city-centre venue. SoGlos.com’s favourites from the choice of starters include smoked salmon roulade filled with cream cheese alongside a raspberry vinaigrette, and the pressed duck and apricot terrine with tomato chilli jam; main course highlights are traditional roast turkey with stuffing and all the trimmings, and the loin of pork roasted with scrumpy cider, sage, cloves, cinnamon and apple with stuffing; while desserts take in the likes of traditional Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, or homemade winterberry cheesecake with forest fruits coulis.
SoGlos.com loves: The chance to enjoy a festive celebration in this lively, intimate setting – with regulars unsurprisingly heading back year-on-year to Cafe Rene.
Dates: Officially available from November 2011 through to early January 2011, while Cafe Rene will aim to cater for any party requirements and dates where possible.
How much: The festive menu is priced at £25 per person.
How about Christmas day?: Cafe Rene is open once again on the big day, and will be offering an extra special Christmas menu costing £49.50 per person. Contact the venue directly for full details and availability.
To book: Call Cafe Rene on 07886 691017, email jojo@caferene.co.uk or visit caferene.co.uk for full information and menu choices.

Venue: Hatherley Manor
On the menu: Whether you want a traditional celebration with the family or a fun knees-up with friends, Hatherley Manor’s array of festive options is sure to suit. Menus include highlights such as sunblushed tomato and courgette soup; traditional honey roast Gloucestershire turkey or aubergine and tomato bake; followed by Christmas pudding with brandy cream – as well as mince pies and coffee, naturally.
SoGlos.com loves: The entertainment provides a huge pull to Hatherley Manor’s renowned events, this year including a trio of Christmas Tribute Nights, Casino Party Nights, as well as two £10 Christmas Disco Nights.
Dates: Christmas menus are available between Friday 18 November 2011 and Saturday 14 January 2012.
How much: Depending on times and dates, prices range from £10 to £35 per person, with an all inclusive option for £99.
How about Christmas day?: Families can forget doing the washing-up this Christmas Day, as Hatherley Manor will be serving a festive menu for residents and non-residents to enjoy, costing £67.50 for adults and £32.50 for children.
To book: Call (01452) 730217, visit hatherleymanor.com or email reservations@hatherleymanor.com for full information and menu choices.

Venue: Dearmans Restaurant at Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall
On the menu: Traditional Christmas fare will be the order of the day, with the festive menu including starters of cream of mushroom and tarragon soup with crunchy croutons, or poached pear with walnut and blue cheese salad; while main courses include everyone’s favourite roast turkey with bacon-wrapped chipolata, sage, chestnut and apricot stuffing with cranberry sauce, or herb-crusted salmon with red pepper sauce; finished by sumptuous sounding desserts of martini cheesecake with a twist of lemon, or brandy Goldfinger torte with chocolate sauce. Plus coffee and a chocolate casino chip, naturally.
SoGlos.com loves: As well as the festive lunch and dinner menu running throughout December, Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall is also running a hugely popular series of Live and Let’s Party Nights, Party for Less Nights and Tribute Nights – including one with a George Michael tribute.
Dates: Festive lunches and dinners are available throughout December. Special nights are also scheduled for other dates in the month, with extremely limited availability – contact the venue for full information.
How much: Lunch costs from £17.50 per person, and dinner from £24.50 per person.
To book: Call Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall on 0844 8159077, email events.mercuregloucesterbowdenhall@jupiterhotels.co.uk or visit mercure-gloucester-bowden-hall.com directly.

Venue: Tiger’s Eye
On the menu: This unique Gloucestershire venue will be offering both a festive lunch and dinner menu. Highlights from the dinner menu include starters of red wine poached pear with pickled walnuts and port syrup, as well as the pork, prawn and ginger steamed dim sum; for main course it simply has to be the Black Rock Grill experience with a choice of lamb, sirloin, tuna and kangaroo, or there’s also choices such as turkey stir fry with cranberries and cashew nuts from the kitchen; while sweets include the likes of chocolate and chilli mousse, or lemon tart with orange Chantilly cream.
SoGlos.com loves: If turkey with all the trimmings isn’t your thing, Tiger’s Eye could be just the ticket. This independent Pan-Asian haunt is well worth checking out, and the full festive menu is brimming with unusual choices.
Dates: Officially available from November 2011 through to early January 2011, while Tiger’s Eye will aim to cater for any party requirements and dates where possible.
How much: The lunch menu costs £20 for three courses, and the dinner menu £25 for four courses.
How about Christmas Day?: Tiger’s Eye is closed on Christmas Day.
To book: Call Tiger’s Eye on (01452) 332993, email reservations@theoldbell-tigerseye.co.uk or visit theoldbell-tigerseye.co.uk directly.

Venue: Oliver Cromwell Paddle Wheeler
On the menu: The Oliver Cromwell has gained a good reputation for its home cooked cuisine, and Christmas will be no exception when the Paddle Wheeler offers festive diners a three-course seasonal menu with all of the trimmings. There will also be tea, coffee and mince pies to look forward to.
SoGlos.com loves: Celebrating afloat the Paddle Wheeler in Gloucester’s historic Docks is sure to help your Christmas party go with a bang.
Dates: A limited number of dates are available from Wednesday 7 to Thursday 15 December 2011.
How much: Places cost from £19.90 per person. Dinner-disco party slots are available, while exclusive private Christmas events for 40 to 60 people can also be arranged – including live bands and DJs.
How about Christmas day?: The Oliver Cromwell Paddle Wheeler is closed on Christmas Day.
To book: Call the Oliver Cromwell Paddlewheeler on (01452) 410411, email info@oliver-cromwell-paddle-wheeler.co.uk or visit oliver-cromwell-paddle-wheeler.co.uk for full information.

Venue: Edward Elgar
On the menu: The Edward Elgar’s head chef will be whipping up a delicious three-course Christmas menu with all the trimmings, and guests can also look forward to tea, coffee and mince pies. This unique riverboat hotel offers four-star comfort with a licensed bar, central heating and panoramic views.
SoGlos.com loves: The chance to tuck into fine festive fare while enjoying the views as you cruise along the Gloucester-Sharpness canal. A unique setting for your Christmas party.
Dates: A limited number of dates are available from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 17 December 2011.
How much: Places cost £32.90 per person including three hours aboard, two hours cruising and Christmas lunch. Lunch cruises are available for group celebrations of 24 to 38 people only.
How about Christmas day?: The Edward Elgar is closed on Christmas Day.
To book: Call English Holiday Cruises on (01452) 410411, email sales@englishholidaycruises.co.uk or visit englishholidaycruises.co.uk for full information.

Stroud Christmas parties 2011

Venue: Forest Green Rovers Football Club
On the menu: Whether you want a small cosy celebration with family and friends, or a big Christmas bash, Forest Green Rovers has a range of packages to suit everyone at its local Nailsworth venue. For starter why not plump for the Upton smoked trout and horseradish pate with toasted tiger bread and young watercress, or the zucchini tart with single Gloucester cheese, frissee lettuce and French dressing. Main course highlights include a soft herb crusted Atlantic cod fillet with new potato cake, roast fennel and leek veloute, or the special Marsala-spiced winter root vegetable and leek pudding with cauliflower puree and crispy onions. And don’t forget to leave some room for a scrumptious dessert, the traditional Christmas pudding with chilled cognac custard, or a Mandarin and orange spiced cheesecake with mulled syrup – both served with FairTrade tea and coffee.
SoGlos.com loves: The chance for parties of 10 to 200 people to celebrate Christmas at the home of the hugely popular Blue Square Bet Premier League team.
Dates: Christmas dining is available from November through until early January 2012. Contact the venue for full information.
How much: Prices start from £20.50 per person.
How about Christmas Day?: Forest Green Rovers is closed on Christmas Day.
To book: Call Forest Green Rovers on (01453) 834860, visit forestgreenfoversfc.com or email reception@forestgreenfoversfc.com for a menu, full pricing and availability.

To get your venue included in Gloucestershire's most popular Christmas party guide, call Melanie Jones on (01242) 210330 or email melanie@soglos.com for details.