So, are you already planning your Christmas Day Dinner?

Well, the decision is made!

Every year of my life, without exception, roast dinner on Christmas Day has been a family affair at home. With Christmas decorations abundant, the Christmas Roast Dinner has been at home.

Planning would have been a steady isue over the previous month or two. The turkey, the star of the show, has either been a locally grown turkey fresh from a local butcher or a frozen one, usually acquired in November at pre-xmas discounted prices, from a major supermarket chain. The vegetables would either be frozen, from the supermarket or Iceland store, or fresh from the local grocery store. Guests would have been invited and the seating plan agreed.

This year, my lovely wife and I contemplated the previously unthinkable - going out for Christmas Day Dinner to a restaurant.

The reason? Well, over the years the family has expanded as our children have married and/or brought us more grandchildren. They are also scattered right across the UK so, if they could join us on this wonderful day of the year, they will need accommodation.

Of course, the endless washing and drying-up - and equally endless need for making tea and coffee for everyone - did figure in my thinking! Not that is it an unwelcome chore but it does take the shine off the day!

To cut a long story short, we have decided to host a family Christmas Day Dinner at a restaurant. Let them spend days preparing the food, decorating the venue, producing endless teas and coffees, produce the meal, do the washing up - and spend the afternoon tidying up before producing a late supper.

The first issue was geographically. Where in the country could we host it with the maximum chance of family members being persuaded to join us. With everyone spread across the country it was a case of putting dots on the map and choosing - Truro in Cornwall. Yep, the biggest concentration of dots was all the way down in the south west of England.

Secondly, came the choice of restaurant. The Internet, and local knowledge of family members, identified potential venues with a good reputation and we honed in on two. One was a restaurant but the promised menu took ages to come through and, when it eventually came after several telephone calls, it did not have any reductions for children and they did not have one table big enough.

Luckily, our equal first favourite came through. A great menu choice, accommodation with Premier Inn right next door, a good reputation for quality food and great service and a clean and well-decorated interior - Carnon Down Inn (a Table Table venue from the Whitbread brand) is now booked!

I'm not sure when I have to give them everyone's menu selection so that's my next task - one I am looking forward to and will not be rushed!

Let me know your plans. Do please email me info@roastdinner.club