Christmas at The BarnYard is not one thing. It is four or five different things, depending on what kind of celebration you are planning and who you are planning it with. What they have in common is that they tend to book out early, often months before December arrives.

This article covers the full picture: the shared party nights, the exclusively hired spaces, the Christmas Lunch and High Tea in the restaurant, the Christmas Eve Brunch, and a note for anyone getting married here in December. Pricing and dates in this article are based on our current brochure. For the latest availability and to book, the best starting point is always to get in touch with the team directly.

The easy optionMixed Christmas Party Nights in the Arboretum

If you want a proper night out without the planning headache, the mixed party nights are what most people book. These run on select Fridays and Saturdays in late November and throughout December, in The Arboretum. You buy tickets by the person rather than hiring the whole space, which makes it a practical option for smaller teams and groups of friends who want a great night without committing to a venue hire.

The format is the same each year: arrival from 6:30pm with a glass of fizz, a four-course festive dinner served from 7:15pm, dancing from 9:15pm, bar until midnight and carriages at 12:30am. The menu runs to a traditional Christmas Turkey with pigs in blankets, Yorkshire pudding, pork and sage stuffing and roast potatoes with thyme and garlic, alongside a Gochujang Salmon and a vegan Baked Portobello Mushroom option. Desserts include a Festive Tiramisu, Traditional Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce, and tea, coffee and mince pies from 9:15pm. Tickets are £69.95 per person, with a £20 non-refundable deposit to secure your places.

These evenings fill quickly. Companies that have been before tend to book as soon as dates go live. If you are planning ahead, the best approach is to get in touch as early as possible and ask what is still available for your preferred date.

Just your groupExclusive Christmas Parties in the Apple Barn

For groups who want the space to themselves, the Apple Barn is available for exclusive hire throughout December from 7pm to 12:30am. The barn holds up to 180 guests and is dressed for the season with Christmas trees, twinkling fairy lights and festive decor.

The format is more relaxed than the mixed party nights: no formal sit-down meal, no table plan, no formalities. Guests arrive from 7pm, our in-house DJ is ready to go with a mix of Christmas, classic and dance music, and there is a welcome drink waiting for everyone. The food is a Christmas buffet, pulled turkey with stuffing, baps, roast potatoes and festive sauces, with the option to add sweet treats. Bar closes and music finishes at midnight, with carriages at 12:30am.

The set package is £2,995 for 50 guests. Any additional guests above that minimum are charged at £25 per head, up to the barn's maximum of 180. A £20 non-refundable deposit per person is required to confirm the booking.

This option works well for companies, friend groups, and family gatherings where people want to move around freely, choose their own music requests and not be seated with strangers. The CourtYard outside the barn is lit with festoons and offers a natural overflow space as the evening gets going.

The restaurant at ChristmasChristmas Lunch and Christmas High Tea

From the start of December through to the 23rd, The Rooster restaurant offers a Christmas Lunch menu for groups wanting something more relaxed. The menu covers all the classics: Traditional Christmas Turkey with pigs in blankets, Yorkshire pudding, pork and sage stuffing and roast potatoes; a Gochujang Salmon Fillet; a Sirloin Steak cooked to your liking; and a Baked Portobello Mushroom for vegetarians and vegans. Starters include Cauliflower Soup, Chicken Liver and Cognac Pate, Mushroom Tart and a Traditional Prawn Cocktail. Desserts run to a Festive Tiramisu, Traditional Christmas Pudding, Chocolate Profiteroles and tea, coffee and mince pies. Two courses are £27.95, three courses are £32.95, with a £20 non-refundable deposit per person.

The Christmas High Tea runs from late November through to 23rd December and is a strong option for daytime groups, baby showers, and those who prefer something lighter. It includes finger sandwiches (Turkey, Bacon and Brie; Oak Smoked Salmon and Lime Aioli; Egg Mayonnaise and Watercress), savoury treats including Treacle Glazed Pigs in Blankets and Crayfish Vol Au Vent, and sweet treats: Orange and Cranberry Scones with Brandy Flavoured Cream, Lemon Curd Tartlet, Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows, Prosecco-Soaked Strawberries and Gingerbread Biscuits. Drinks include ground coffee or tea with mini mince pies and pink lemonade. Priced at £36 per adult and £15 per child under 10, the table is yours for 1.5 hours with a £20 non-refundable deposit per person. Vegetarian, vegan and children's menus are available.

The restaurant does not allow outside alcohol, but the bar is fully stocked and the team can order in specific drinks if you have requests for your group.

Christmas morningThe Christmas Eve Brunch

This one has built a following of its own. On 24th December, The BarnYard opens from 9am to 2pm for a Christmas Eve Brunch, which is exactly the right way to start the day before Christmas. Slots are pre-bookings only and typically fill well in advance.

The format starts with a self-serve buffet: fruit and yogurt bar, cereals, nuts and seeds, freshly baked pastries and preserves, tea and coffee. Then you choose from a hot menu: the full Traditional Full English ("Santa's Grotto"), a Full Vegetarian option, avocado baked with Pico de Galo and poached egg, or toasted breakfast muffins Benedict, Florentine or Royale. For something different, there is a Trio of Pancakes with fresh berries and gingerbread syrup, and a Chorizo Wrap with scrambled eggs. The children's menu has a Chocolate Waffle and a Mini Breakfast. Priced at £25 per adult and £15 per child under 10, with a £10 deposit per person.

Getting married in DecemberThe Arboretum dressed for Christmas

If you are planning a December wedding at The BarnYard, the Arboretum is decorated for Christmas throughout the entire month. This is not a small touch: it is a full dressing of the space, and it is included with every booking made in December. For couples whose vision includes a festive backdrop, a Christmas wedding here looks the way Christmas should look. The December wedding pricing reflects both the season and the dressing, and it is worth building that into your planning conversations early. December Saturdays and Fridays carry the same rate, and minimum guest numbers rise to 60 adults for this month.

The one ruleBook earlier than you think you need to

Christmas at The BarnYard is popular, and the mixed party nights in particular have a track record of selling out months before December. If a specific date or format matters to your group, the worst thing you can do is assume it will still be available in October.

For mixed party nights and Christmas Eve Brunch, bookings are made through the In House Events section of the website. For exclusive Apple Barn hire, Christmas Lunch, Christmas High Tea and December weddings, the starting point is the events team at events@the-barnyard.com or via the enquiry form on the website. The team will come back to you promptly with what is available and what is not.

A few quick notesWhat to know before you enquire

Deposits: All Christmas bookings require a non-refundable deposit per person or per event to secure the date. The deposit is lost if you cancel on the day.

Dietary requirements: All dietary needs must be confirmed at the time of booking. They cannot be accommodated on the day itself.

Dogs: Dogs are welcome in The CourtYard just outside The Rooster. They are not permitted inside the main buildings.

Pricing: All prices include VAT, waitressing staff, white napkins, crockery and cutlery. Tablecloths are charged separately if required. An optional 10% gratuity is included on the bill.

Catering: The BarnYard is not a dry hire venue for events. All food and drink for parties and celebrations is provided in-house. Outside alcohol is not permitted.