Christmas celebrations have an interactive twist at Cheltenham’s Nagomi, where a Japanese-Korean barbecue sits at the centre of the table and everyone has a hand in the cooking.
Friends, families and colleagues can gather around their own smokeless grill, cooking meat, seafood and vegetables between helpings of Korean fried chicken, dumplings and noodles. Even dessert gets its turn over the heat, with s’mores to toast as the evening winds down.
For Christmas 2026, the popular Crescent Place restaurant is offering group menus from £39 per person, with sharing dishes and barbecue platters chosen to suit each party’s tastes, numbers and budget – and a special bonus for bookings made in October.
There’s no fixed festive menu, owners Paul and Portia Brown draw on Nagomi’s Japanese-Korean favourites, giving each party the tailor-made chance to agree its own feast before arriving.
Gather around the grill at Nagomi
Nagomi’s signature experience is yakiniku, a Japanese barbecue tradition with Korean roots. Prepared meat, seafood and vegetables arrive ready for guests to cook on their own tabletop grill, a little at a time.
It gives festive celebrations a relaxed rhythm – with everyone having the chance to barbecue, while dishes are passed around, with plenty of time to try different flavours and catch up between bites.
Paul has seen how well the yakiniku format works for celebrations. He said: ‘The grill gives people a shared focus, so conversation comes naturally. We’ve seen how well that works for colleagues from different departments – it helps them relax and get to know each other beyond their working roles. There’s an informality to cooking and sharing food together that really suits a Christmas celebration.’
Friends and families can settle into the same relaxed approach, with the cooking providing entertainment throughout the meal.
For groups keen to add a little competition, Nagomi can also provide traditional Korean and Japanese party games, including a dalgona honeycomb challenge inspired by Squid Game. With steady hands proving more useful than barbecue skills for that one!
Dine on fried chicken, barbecue platters and a sweet finish this Christmas
Nagomi provides full flexibility for Christmas dining – giving groups the chance to put together a meal all guests will enjoy, whether they’re enthusiastic barbecue fans or trying Japanese-Korean food for the first time.
A typical Christmas celebration at Nagomi could start with edamame, before filling with Korean dumplings, pumpkin korokke and Nagomi’s bestselling Seoul fried chicken, served with honey garlic or spicy yangnyeom sauce.
Noodles, kimchi and egg fried rice accompany the yakiniku platters, with dishes arriving as they’re ready and plenty for guests to share. Premium Japanese wagyu platters are also available on request.
Then come the s’mores, toasted over the grill – for a sweet finish that makes use of the table’s centrepiece.
Each menu is agreed individually, with vegetarian and vegan options available and dietary requirements discussed when enquiring.
Book a Christmas party at Nagomi
Christmas parties are available for groups of six or more, up to 69, with smaller spaces including booths and a semi-private room, banquette seating accommodating up to 28 together and exclusive hire available for larger celebrations.
There’s an early-booking bonus, too: parties with their deposit paid by Saturday 31 October 2026 receive a complimentary bottle of soju for every six guests, to share in a toast to the season.
To discuss your Christmas party, and receive menu ideas and a price, complete the enquiry form at nagomi.co.uk.
