Eat, drink and be merry

The motto of "eat, drink and be merry" is at the heart of the festive season and if you haven't already made a firm booking for those special get-togethers, you'd better hurry or you may end up being disappointed.

It's all too easy to put off until tomorrow what you should have done today when it comes to booking the table at your selected venue.

You may not get your first choice at this late stage, but you should get in somewhere- however, there's not a moment to waste!

Most restaurants offer special Christmas menus, usually at affordable prices.

There is such a variety of cuisine available that your main problem could be deciding whether to celebrate English, Continental, Indian or Chinese-style, and then which restaurant to visit.

To some extent this will depend on how much the people in your party want to spend.

Ask around for recommendations from friends, and before you book inspect the menu to make sure that there is a good choice of dishes.

Many people don't want traditional festive fare when they are facing a turkey marathon over the holiday period.

Ensure that there is provision for any vegetarians in your party; most good restaurants have special arrangements and most will need pre-ordering, which is a good idea for large parties too, so your starters can be ready and waiting for you. Its wise to confirm the booking also or the Christmas do may be a bag of chips!

Some restaurants in hotels will put together room, meal and entertainment packages at attractive prices.

One advantage of this is that everyone can have a few drinks without worrying about getting home.

Don't be tempted take a chance with drinking and driving- we all know the tragic consequences that can occur, losing your driving licence may be the least of the problem.

So if you really want a tipple with your festive meal, book a taxi or enjoy a Yuletide walk home signing a few carols!