News on The Jester Country Inn

Small Christmas Gatherings: Lunchtime, Midweek or January

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When people think of a Christmas party, they often picture a large room, long tables and a crowded Friday night in mid-December. Increasingly, though, groups are choosing something smaller and quieter.

Industry sources point the same way. Square Meal’s Christmas party trends for 2026 lists lunchtime parties, smaller gatherings and January celebrations among its predictions. The Morning Advertiser, citing trade figures, reports that groups are shifting from large parties to smaller gatherings, with peaks in early afternoon, after work and midweek.

Bonfire Night 2026: A Practical Guide

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Bonfire Night falls on Thursday 5 November this year. Because it is midweek, many communities hold their displays on the Friday or Saturday either side, and demand for tickets and tables is spread over several days.

Sites that list events, such as Skiddle and the specialist fireworks suppliers publishing their UK Bonfire Night guides for 2026, are already promoting displays. If you want to go, now is a good time to look.

An Autumn Walk and a Sunday Roast

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There is a particular kind of autumn Sunday that many people look for: a brisk walk through the fields, damp boots, and a table waiting at the end of it. Travel writers and pub groups across Britain have been promoting exactly that idea this season. The Chestnut Group, for example, has published a guide called “Autumn walks that end with a Sunday roast”, and national news sites have been running similar features on walks and roasts.

Christmas Party Planning Checklist for 2026

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Every year the same thing happens. Someone says “we should do something for Christmas”, the weeks slip by, and by the time the invitations go out the best dates have gone. If you are organising a party this year, the first week or two of October is a good time to start.

This checklist works for a work do, a family get-together or a gathering of friends.

Why it pays to start now

Square Meal, the restaurant booking guide, says in its Christmas party trends for 2026 that bookings are getting earlier each year as companies plan ahead for the widest choice of venues and dates. It also describes September as the busiest month for booking.