If you do miss out on a Christmas booking, think further away as a solution for a get-together. “New Year’s Eve is the last date to fill up, because people leave it as late as possible to commit to a plan, so you can try to book something then,” says Nimmons.
The bigger your party, the earlier you need to book. “For smaller tables of two or four, we’re usually not getting many inquiries until mid-November,” says Kate Baldry, manager at luxury Glasgow restaurant Hazel. “If you do make last minute plans, snag a walk-in before 7pm or after 9pm. Fridays and Saturdays in December are always the busiest but Thursdays and Sundays are busy too, with working from home making it easier to hide the sore heads.”
If you are struggling to find a table, there is one final thing to try, says Gabriel Gonzalez, co-founder of London’s sought-after Peruvian spot, LIMA. “Either book your table early (now) or late in case of cancellations,” he says. “You will get better results in person or on the phone. If customers call, we will always do our best to find them a table, even at our busiest times.”
“Generally, this time of year, shows get busier, and ticket prices can increase as availability goes down,” says Ryan Woods, commercial director at London Theatre Direct, which runs Telegraph Theatre Tickets. “On average, most people book around 25 days ahead of their visit. Booking earlier usually means better prices. Rush tickets aren’t guaranteed and often don’t offer seat choice. Checking for last-minute cancellations can sometimes work, but it’s always better to plan ahead.”
Data from booking platform Eventbrite shows that ticket sales for pantomimes pick up from early October onwards, though the majority of people tend to buy tickets to these events only one or two weeks in advance.
