Festivities in Full Swing

With a little over a week to go, Christmas parties are in full swing and your bar and kitchen should be running like a well-oiled machine; after all, you did all of the planning and preparation to make sure things ran smoothly! Unfortunately no matter how much you try to anticipate every eventuality there will always be some little thing that crops up to test you.

Although the season is midway through there is still chance to brush up on some areas that require attention – even the most prepared will run into issues and areas of concern that only become apparent during the event.

Here are just a few common stumbling blocks.

• Seating Plan

This will have been given careful consideration beforehand; after all, you need to create a dining area that seats as many people as possible without appearing overcrowded. What you may not be able to plan for is the amount of room each guest takes up with bags, coats and maybe even the odd Christmas present or two. All of the tables need to be easily accessible with the servers and guests able to manoeuvre comfortably without tripping or encroaching into other diner’s space. If you notice any areas of concern, a quick shuffle of seats and slight readjustment could make the whole season run a little more smoothly.

• Is the bar Working Efficiently?

Nothing says ‘It’s Christmas’ better than a few drinks to accompany a meal; what’s even better is if waiting times are kept to a minimum. Obviously a bar that works in unison should be a main feature all year round but when the busy period comes around this is even more crucial. Rather than operate with a philosophy of ‘whoever is free, serves’, try allocating specific tasks to each bar tender – someone to serve guests that come to the bar, a person to prepare drinks for table service and maybe even a dedicated cocktail specialist should this appear on your menu. Rather than an ‘all hands on deck’ approach, try a little organisation, order and task delegation.

• Is the Kitchen Coping?

Arguably the heart of every operation is the kitchen; the hub of activity and a hive of creativity (and a little tension!), this is where the magic happens. Everyone must be working in sync to achieve flawless performance. Take a step back to analyse procedures; are meals being prepared on time? If things are running a little slow, what can be done to increase productivity and improve time management? While certain foods can be prepped prior to service there may be more that can be done to ease the load once the guests are clattering their knives and forks on the tables.

Another area which should be looked at is that vital kitchen equipment is performing as it should. Whilst cleaning and maintenance are routine all year round, the sudden surge in pressure could highlight any minor issues that weren’t apparent during regular shifts. Slower food preparation may not be human weakness or error at all, but rather mechanical.

• What About Staff?

Staff may be working extra hours but remember that it’s their Christmas too! While professionalism should always be observed you should try to make the holiday season a little special for staff as well. Happy staff will naturally exude the Christmas spirit which will in turn enhance your guest’s experience.

While this should all have been planned and prepared months in advance there are always some issues which will arise out of the blue. Being able to recognise and rectify problems quickly and efficiently will ensure the spirit of Christmas isn’t dampened.