Nottingham’s best Christmas set menus: 10 festive feasts at a snip of the usual price

With the growing expense of Christmas every year, not to mention increases in heating bills and the general cost of living, festive socialising might seem like less of a priority this year. That is, until you discover the magic of a Christmas set menu, featuring plenty of comforting dishes often at a fraction of the usual cost. No one loves a deal as much as we do, especially when it involves dining out. And as Nottingham’s best festive set menus prove, this is a city that knows how to make a brilliant Christmas deal.

This time of year calls for all things comforting and cosy, and restaurants in Nottingham are primed to deliver: offering a whole host of festive dishes from traditional smoked salmon and chicken liver parfait to full, showstopping roasts, and Christmassy twists on sticky toffee pudding.

As you probably already know, Nottingham’s food scene is pretty diverse, with Michelin starred restaurants rubbing shoulders with crowd-pleasing casual chains and family friendly spots near Christmas markets and major attractions. But whether you’re hunting for a refined festive dinner in an upmarket setting or looking to bring the kids along, Nottingham’s best Christmas set menus cover all needs.

Set menus have really taken off in recent years, and it’s not so hard to see why. When great value and quality combine, we’re more than happy to sacrifice on choice, eschewing a la carte decision paralysis for a handful of reliable pocket-friendly options. Plus, as restaurants will often include their best sellers, top festive dishes, and lots of luxury touches on festive set menus, they really are a no-brainer.

From budget-friendly to energetic dining and casual spots, discover Nottingham’s best Christmas set menus and where to find the most bang for buck.

Cleaver & Wake

What: Cleaver & Wake celebrates the best of British produce with a fine dining edge. Expect beautiful presentation, classic but thoughtful combinations, and an air of refinement fit for the season. The festive set menu is available as a two or three-course dinner, with a separate festive lunch menu too. For dinner, the Christmas set menu kicks off with starters like cured Loch Duart Salmon with avocado and Cornish white crab, and a venison, pheasant and smoked bacon terrine. Mains meanwhile, offer beef Wellington, roasted monkfish, and highland venison.
How much: Two courses from £42 per person, three courses from £50 per person
Where: 1 The Island Quarter, The Great Northern Close, NG2 3BJ
Book now: Cleaver & Wake

Bill’s

What: Known for its brilliant, crowd-pleasing all day offering, it’ll hardly come as a surprise that Bill’s offers a great-value set menu. It includes a choice of three courses, with starters including the likes of warm winter beetroot and stilton salad with cranberry and a creamy cauliflower and truffle soup. Mains, meanwhile, offer up sea bass with Prosecco hollandaise, and turkey breast with festive stuffing, all wrapped up in bacon and served with pigs in blankets. Bill’s also runs a fantastic gluten-free festive set menu, and there are plenty of kids' options in case you’re bringing the whole family.
How much: Three courses for £35.95 per person
Where: 15 Queen Street, NG1 2BL
Book now: Bill's Nottingham Restaurant

Pitcher & Piano

What: Housed within a Grade II listed church, Pitcher & Piano is certainly one of the most impressive settings for festive set menu dining. It’s all decked out come Christmas time, and you’ll find plenty of menu options to enjoy beneath the stunning stained glass windows. Go for one or two courses, choosing from dishes like crispy salt and pepper squid, BBQ cauliflower wings, roast turkey with all the trimmings, sirloin steak, triple chocolate brownies and Christmas pudding.
How much: Two courses for £31 per person, three courses for £36 per person
Where: High Pavement, NG1 1HN
Book now: Pitcher & Piano

Cosy Club

What: With a name like Cosy Club, we're expecting big, comforting things. Fortunately, this ornate dining room has announced a festive set menu that includes pigs in blankets (because they’re too good to be just a side dish), whipped feta with hot honey and sticky Asian fried chicken. For your main course, choose from York House roasted pork belly, The Cosy Christmas Pie, and maple roasted squash, then just top it all off with a bruleed miso caramel custard tart or dark chocolate mousse.
How much: Two courses from £31 per person, three courses from £38.95 per person
Where: 16-18 Victoria Street, NG1 2EX
Book now: Cosy Club

Forthergills

What: Set just opposite Nottingham Castle, Fothergills' fixed price bistro-style menus are a regular favourite for daytrippers, tourists and locals alike. In the lead up to Christmas, set menus get a festive twist, bringing in the dishes like woodland pottage, heritage boar pate, miso and mustard glazed pork belly, turkey ballotine, and Guinness braised beef, among plenty of other vegetarian and gluten-free options. It’s available as a two-course festive menu, but we’d happily loosen our belts for the likes of treacle and pecan tarts, and mulled pear and apple crumble.
How much: Two courses for £35.95 per person, three courses for £44.95 per person
Where: 5-7 Castle Road, NG1 6AA
Book now: Fothergills

Piccolino

What: This is one of Nottingham’s most convenient festive set menu offerings, thanks to its prime location just around the corner from the Christmas market. But Piccolino isn’t just great for convenience, this trusty group offers warming Italian comforts: from bruschetta with wild and chestnut mushrooms and truffle ricotta to gnocchi with veggie ragu. Feeling more traditional? Go for the arrosto di tacchino, which sees oven roast turkey matched with apricot and chestnut stuffing, pigs in blankets and plenty of gravy. To finish, the tiramisu is a must.
How much: Three courses for £44 per person
Where: 7 Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB
Book now: Piccolino Nottingham

The Wollaton

What: Known as a friendly ‘home-from-home’ style pub, focusing on just the kind of comfort food we crave at this time of year. The pub runs a festive party menu for larger groups, alongside a festive a la carte offering. It’s great for larger groups, and comes with plenty of choice. Start with plates like smoked salmon with parsley cream cheese roulade, roast mushroom and sweet potato Wellington, and chocolate sundaes with salted caramel ice cream.
How much: Two courses from £28 per person, three courses from £35 per person
Where: Lambourne Drive, NG8 1GR
Book now: The Wollaton

All Bar One

What: Wanting to celebrate somewhere with a little more energy? All Bar One is a sure win, thanks to its social atmosphere and crowd-pleasing dishes. To start, there’s panko-encrusted camembert with pickled cherry and chicory, chicken satay skewers and prawn cocktail tacos, followed by mains like roast turkey rolled in streaky bacon, roast aubergine with dukkha, and a camembert and chorizo festive burger. For dessert, there’s Christmas toffee pudding, churros, and a Kahlua hot chocolate affogato on the table.
How much: Three courses for £35.95 per person
Where: Unit 3, Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB
Book now: All Bar One Nottingham

Browns

What: Tucked away just around the corner from the Nottingham Playhouse, Browns is an old but trusty favourite for all things festive. This year’s favourite comes packed with plenty of dishes that’ll get you in the festive mood, from an indulgent prawn cocktail with toasted brioche to roast turkey with crispy roast potatoes, maple roast carrots and parsnips and shaved Brussel sprouts. Desserts, meanwhile, stretch from apple and rhubarb crumble, and salted caramel profiteroles to Christmas pudding and dark chocolate torte.
How much: Three courses for £45 per person
Where: 20 Park Row, NG1 6GR
Book now: Browns Nottingham

Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar & Grill

What: Under the banner of one of the UK’s most respected chefs, Marco Pierre White’s Nottingham steakhouse really knows how to put on a full feast. Available at lunch and dinner every day of the week, as either two or three courses, proceedings at Marco’s kick off with delicious things like chicken liver parfait with fig chutney, butternut squash velouté, and smoked salmon. Then, there’s a very tempting butcher’s steak with peppercorn sauce and Koffmann chips, British roast turkey with all the trimmings, and grilled seabass alla Siciliana.
How much: Two courses from £29.95 per person, three courses from £35.95 per person
Where: 33 Wollaton Street, NG1 5FW
Book now: Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar & Grill

Searching for something sweeter? Check out all the best afternoon teas Nottingham has to offer, many of which receive a festive makeover as 25 December approaches.

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