5 Reasons to Take the Family Out to Dinner Tonight

Are you wondering whether to take the family out to dinner tonight or to stay in again? Maybe it’s a special occasion, or maybe you’re just craving a change? While it is likely to cost a little more than cooking up whatever is sat in your fridge or freezer, eating out is an important part of our social life, and taking a break is beneficial for our wellbeing. Still not sure? Here are 5 reasons why you should take yourself and the family out to dinner tonight.

1.   Give yourself a break

A change is as good as a rest. We all need to take a break sometimes and let someone else do the dirty work. If you’ve been having a rough time personally or professionally recently, a night of being served delicious food and drink with no washing up at the end could be just what you need.

2.   Indulge your cravings

Have you been craving a particular dish for a while? If so, make tonight the night that you give in and do what makes you happy. We all know the importance of a balanced and healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge from time to time. In fact, eating what you’re craving every once in a while is a good way to satisfy the urge and then get straight back on track.

3.   Get away from technology and home stresses

Technology is great, but sometimes it’s good to get out of the house and away from the TV, laptops, tablets and phones that we stare at all day long. It’s not only good to give ourselves a rest from a physical point of view, but also to give ourselves time to be social. When we are not playing games, or on social media, we are forced to make conversation and find out more about the people around us. Give it a go, and you might just enjoy it!

4.   Support a local business

It’s a tough time for independent businesses in your local area, so why not do a bit for the community and support its economy? The people who serve your drinks, wait on your table and take your payment at the end of the night will all benefit from your patronage, and you can help your local area to grow just that little bit more.

5.   Try a new dish

When we get into a routine of buying the same weekly shop and cooking the same meals, it can be difficult to take a risk. Eating out in a restaurant and letting someone else cook for you is a great way to try new ingredients and dishes which you can then consider adding to your home repertoire. Eating out is also a great way to educate children about different foods as well as the social expectations involved in eating in public.

When you’ve finally decided that a family meal out is taking place, your next task will be deciding where to eat in Chichester. Why not join us here at the Hole in the Wall in Chichester? We are a family-friendly pub (including the dog!) and serve a wide range of delicious meals, including pub classics and vegetarian and vegan dishes.

How to Plan a Party Your Guests Will Remember

Everyone loves a good party, especially around the holidays. Whatever the occasion, whether it’s a holiday party, a birthday, a corporate function, a wedding, or some other reason to celebrate, you want your guests to enjoy themselves and talk about it fondly for a long time after. Who wants to host a party that’s boring and forgettable? Nobody. 

If you’re hosting a party for five people or for 50 people, you want the night to be fun and memorable. After all, you’re putting in all that effort into planning it, so of course, you want it to pay off.

Here are a few tips on how to plan an unforgettable party. 

Pick a theme

Having a themed party makes it that much more exciting for your guests, so ensure everyone knows what the theme is well in advance so they can prepare and take part. It also helps give your event some legs in regards to the atmosphere, music, decorations, and food, since all of these aspects can revolve around your theme. Forget about boring snacks when you can liven them up based on your theme. 

Depending on what kind of party you want to throw, you could choose a classic and elegant theme like a black and white party, a time period party involving fancy dress from a specific decade or fun and nostalgic costumes from your childhood, or something completely out there like a luau-themed party. You can be creative here, so find some inspiration and pick something fun!

Pick the right venue

Your venue can make or break your event as it’s crucial for setting the tone for the whole party. The rest of your party planning pieces like the date, the food and the entertainment are all affected by your venue choice, so the right venue really does lay the foundations for an excellent party. The location is also important because you want to make it easy for your guests to get there and get home. Do you need to consider close transportation routes or if there’s ample parking? That’s something to consider when thinking about the location. If you’re looking for local party venues in Chichester, The Hole in the Wall is a great option because of its central location. 

Plan a menu

Food and drink at a party is a must! To keep it from being too boring, you can liven up your menu by taking it to the next level. If you’re planning a themed party, make sure your menu is tied to the theme. For example, if you’re hosting a black and white party, only serve foods and drinks that are black and white. It might be a challenge, but it’ll definitely elevate your menu game and stick around in your guests’ memories for a long time. If you aren’t going for a theme, try and keep it interesting. Instead of the usual hors d'oeuvres, spice it up with something a bit more unusual and fun. Bonus points if you choose something that is fun to photograph so your guests can show off on social media. The same goes for drinks – why have the same, tired drink options when there are so many creative choices? If you want your party to be memorable, every aspect of it needs to go that extra mile.

5 Fun Ways to Spend Christmas Eve

There is a lot that goes into planning the perfect Christmas Day, so much so that often Christmas Eve can go entirely overlooked. From planning the Christmas dinner to organising presents and making sure the house is decorated and ready for guests, there is so much to think about when it comes to making sure that Christmas Day goes well. However, if you want to make sure that Christmas Eve doesn’t go unnoticed this year, and you’re looking for a fun way to spend the evening that everyone will enjoy, here are five simple ideas that might just inspire you.

Decorate Gingerbread Men

Building a gingerbread house and decorating gingerbread men is a time-honoured classic Christmas activity that so many people enjoy, young or old. You could either get the whole family to work on one big gingerbread project together or set them the task of designing their own gingerbread creations. Either way, it’ll make for the perfect Christmas Eve activity. 

A Christmas Move Marathon

As the majority of Christmas Day is often spent rushing around, sometimes it’s nice to do nothing more on Christmas Eve than sit down in front of the TV with your family and binge on Christmas films. You could break out the popcorn, make some hot chocolate, and watch all your favourite movies together for a fun, relaxing night in that will set you up for the busy day ahead.  

Go Out for The Evening

If you are planning on spending your Christmas Day at home, then sometimes it can be quite nice to spend Christmas Eve outside of the house. Seeing as a lot of Christmas Day can be spent stuck in the kitchen preparing a festive feast, Christmas Eve offers the perfect opportunity to eat out, or maybe just nip out of the house for a few hours. For example, what better way to spend your evening out than by heading to the pub for some drinks and live music in Windsor!

Bake Fresh Cookies for Santa

So many children love the tradition of leaving out milk and cookies for Santa, so why not make it extra special by baking the cookies yourself? Baking is an activity that the whole family can get involved in, and while younger children might not be able to do as much to help, they’ll still enjoy the experience. Plus, you can even give the children the opportunity to decorate their own cookies to give Santa, which will keep them occupied throughout the excitement of Christmas Eve!

Have A Treasure Hunt

Seeing all the presents under the tree can be a little bit too tempting for children at Christmas, so to avoid constantly being asked to open some presents early, host a treasure hunt to keep them distracted. In lieu of a stocking this year, you could place a few small presents around the house, and write clues for your children to find them. This is the type of activity that could turn into lots of fun for everyone and has the added benefit of keeping everyone distracted from the presents under the tree.

4 Reasons to Eat Out This Christmas

Although the Christmas season should be focused on good will and cheer, the lead up to Christmas and the day itself can often be an extremely stressful and chaotic time for hosts, leaving them unable to enjoy the precious time with their family.

However, eating out at Christmas, whether that in the lead up to the holidays or on the day itself, is a great way to both get the pleasure of family time without the demands of having to host the occasion yourself.

At The Hole in the Wall, we have compiled a number of reasons why eating out can allow you to have an enjoyable Christmas. See below:

1.   That Festive Feeling

Not only this, but eating at a restaurant around the Christmas period, and especially on Christmas day, can help to give you that desired festive feeling. At The Hole in the Wall, we help you to achieve that with our decorated restaurant space, crackers on the tables, and even quality entertainment. Forget decorating the tree, and simply check out our venue for your Christmas party in Chichester to help you to get into the Christmas spirit.

2.   Less Stress

One of the major factors in deciding to eat out is due to the fact that this will put less pressure on hosts, allowing every member of the family to enjoy the Christmas period without unnecessary stress. Rather than one family member having to bear the burden of the occasion, eating out at Christmas allows you to avoid the mess and stress of cooking, serving and entertaining, allowing the professionals to do this for you.

Instead of preparing months in advance, you simply have to remember to book ahead to secure your spot. Simply turn up on the day to dine on a lavish meal that you could have only dreamed of creating in your own kitchen.

3.   Food For All the Family

With fussy children and picky eaters in tow, when you have a large family, it can be incredibly difficult to cater towards all of their individual preferences when it comes to food. This can make it especially hard for hosts, and may leave you having to buy more food than is necessary in order to provide everyone with their preferred culinary choices. However, when looking to host a Christmas party in Chichester, our Christmas menu serves everyone’s favourites when it comes to Christmas Dinner, whether your Uncle has been dreaming of Christmas Pudding all year round, or your young child would rather Father Christmas never came than be forced to eat sprouts.

4.   Time to Socialise

Instead of having to dart back and forth between the dining room and the kitchen in order to procure more sprouts, pass the gravy or light the Christmas Pudding, dining out at Christmas will allow everyone to socialise with each other, rather than having to spend time slaving over the stove. This gives you the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and make Christmas memories that you will remember forever, without worrying whether you have set the timer correctly.  

Best Things to Do Around Chichester

Chichester is a beautiful historic town with lots of things to see and do for all occasions, whether you are looking for activities for your family, or just want to explore the town by yourself. Unlike most cities which have long demolished their original city structures and changed layouts entirely, Chichester amazingly still retains the cross streets first designed by the Romans, and is still home to original Roman walls. Whether you have a love of history and architecture, or want to find something a little more laid back for you and your family to do, here are some examples of the best things to do around Chichester to help inspire you.

Explore the history and architecture

Chichester is home to some notable historic sites, from the Cathedral which boasts centuries old architecture, to the Chichester Walls which still hold most of the original Roman structure which was built almost two millennia ago. These sites offer the perfect opportunity to show your family a little slice of history, while still allowing you to have a relaxed and fun day out. Alternatively, if you prefer nature over architecture, then you could explore the range of flower beds and exotic trees within the Bishops’ palace gardens.

Enjoy a pub lunch

One of the nicest things to do as a family is to sit down for a meal together, and Chichester boasts some amazing local restaurants and pubs with a variety of foods to suit the whole family. Whether you’re looking for the best Sunday roast Chichester can provide, or prefer house smoked meats, click View our Menu to see some of the wonderful options we have to offer the whole family.  

Have a picnic in Priory Park

One of the best ways to explore all that Chichester has to offer is by foot, as you’ll really get to take in the range of architecture, both old and new, as well as the greenery of the gardens and parks around the city. If you have a dog, it gives you the perfect excuse to go around on foot, and also leaves you free to check out one of the wonderful dog friendly pubs Chichester has to offer. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to find somewhere outside to sit and relax, rather than walking all over the city, then why not head to Priory Park to sit down for a picnic with your family? There is also a play area for young children to enjoy, which will keep them occupied while you enjoy the fresh air and greenery.

Head to the beach

There are a number of beaches within only a few short miles of Chichester, such as West Wittering beach. Alternatively, if you want to travel a little further, you could head towards Brighton town centre, and explore the busier beachfront stores and arcades. While Chichester doesn’t have a beach of it’s own, it does have a harbour if you want to take a walk by the water without having to travel too far.

Gins

Gin is a hugely popular liquor at the moment which is usually used as a spirit in a mixed drink. It’s simple enough you might think, but what you may not know is that there are actually several types of gin. We’re not talking about brands of gin which there are too many to count, but the original gin which was invented in Holland over 500 years ago has evolved into at least five distinct types. Each gin offers a slightly different aroma and flavour which influences what drinks it mixes well with and which it doesn’t. Here’s an introduction to five main types of gin.

Dutch Gin (or Genever Gin)

Gin was originally created by a Dutch chemist who was interested in its medicinal benefits, and it is quite different from modern types of gins. It is made from malt grain rather than cereal grains which most other gins are made from. This gives Dutch gin is a darker colour and a flavour, which is a lot like botanical whiskey. Dutch gin is light in body and, rather than being added to mixers, is often simply chilled and sipped in its straight form.

London Dry Gin

The most commonly drunk type of gin is known as London dry which, as the name suggests, is dry and has a very strong aroma. Distillers of London dry will often try to intensify the juniper flavour by adding aromatic ingredients which will vary by brand.

Plymouth Gin

Plymouth gin is similar to London dry but is not as dry and is more earthy in flavour thanks to the injection of roots during the distillery process. There is only one brand of Plymouth gin (called Plymouth). It is and has only ever been produced in Plymouth, England, having been first produced there in 1793.

Old Tom Gin

Old Tom is a sweet gin which has a dry body. This makes it like a combination of London dry and Genever. The Old Tom gin has not been as popular over the years, but more and more pubs and bars are now stocking it for use in cocktails, including the famous Tom Collins which was named after the actor.

New American or International Style Gin

The most recent gins which have emerged on the scene are known as New American or International Style gin. These gins are produced using a very similar process of distillery but use more unusual botanical flavourings such as rose or cucumber. The popular brand Hendrick’s is an example of international gin.

We Have 40 Gins For You to Try at the Hole In The Wall

Not sure which type of gin is your favourite? We have a menu which features a range of 40 gins from small-batch makers and international names, and each has its own mix of ingredients and distillery process which creates either a dry, earthy or sweet gin. Next time you’re looking for a pub lunch in Chichester stop in and try one (or more) of our 40 brands of gin

Why Has Gin Taken Off Recently?

The surge in gin’s popularity has been impressive, and one that you might have noticed we at the Hole In The Wall have taken to heart – we now have a vast range of 40 gins, many from small batch spirits makers for our customers to enjoy.

What, though, is behind gin’s spectacular rise? There are a number of reasons why this spirit, in particular, has become such a big part of the public conscience.

It Mixes Well

One of the best things about gin is the fact that it mixes so well with other drinks, turning what could be a rather dull beverage into something much more exciting. Gin and tonic is still popular, of course, and it’s a lovely, refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but there are lots of other mixers that you can try. Some of the most popular include:

·         Cranberry juice

·         Bitter lemon

·         Ginger beer

·         Tomato juice

·         Sparkling elderflower

·         Soda water

Perfect For Food

Search for restaurants near Chichester, and you’ll find that there are some great ones out there, and we’re one of them. We have a great range of food on offer, from burgers to pizzas and sharing platters too.

What has this got to do with gin? Well, unlike wine or perhaps even beer to some extent, gin can go well with any food. Formal or informal dining, a big roast dinner or a sandwich snack, a tall glass of gin with some kind of tasty mixer, or even gin on the rocks if you prefer, will give you the ideal accompaniment.

Much More Choice

In the past gin was not so popular, and certainly not with the younger crowd who preferred ‘alcopops’ or Bacardi and vodka. Gin was even seen as an older person’s drink; perhaps something that your grandparents would pick if they were in a pub.

As time has gone on, however, more and more craft distilleries have opened up, allowing for many different versions of gin to be made. Whereas in the past there were only a handful of brands (and they all tended to taste very similar) which meant choice was limited and there was certainly nothing exciting about gin, today there are hundreds of different gins around, 40 of which are right here in our bar.

Exciting new flavours and mixes, even different colours, smells, and certainly a lot of new ideas have made gin an interesting drink to try. You can taste the different infusions and find all kinds of weird and wonderful versions of this versatile drink. This is one of the reasons why it has found popularity, but also one of the reasons why there are more and more flavours being produced, so the circle will never end.

The Local Touch

One thing that gin producers can offer is the local touch. There are so many craft distilleries that you are almost guaranteed to find one nearby. If you are looking at venue hire Chichester and you want to have locally produced food and drink from the area too, then gin could be the ideal answer.

Locally produced good has much less impact on the environment, and it’s good to support the local economy. Choosing gin means you can do both of those things, so no wonder it is a popular choice.

Like Food? You’ll Love The Hole In The Wall

At The Hole In The Wall, we didn’t used to do food. We concentrated on the range of drinks we had on offer and our great location. However, over time, we changed how we do things, and now we have an amazing array of food on offer whether you want something light or something more substantial. Our kitchen staff are second to none, and the waiting staff are always eager to please. If you’ve not tried us out yet, here are some of the reasons why you should.

Theme Days

If you view our menu, you’ll see a range of fantastic food that will make your mouth water. There’s the tasty burger or the spicy chilli dog. There’s the pie of the day, or the halloumi and roasted butternut squash salad. There’s the pizzas (lots of them!), or the fish board. There’s a lot. However, sometimes, there is even more.

We’re talking about our special theme days. Because we know that people will have a favourite food and that those foods are popular with many different people, we offer special days such as our steak days or our rib days. These days are exciting because not only do you get to eat your favourite food, but you might even try them in a way you’ve never eaten them before.

Lazy Sundays

Sunday should be about resting up and getting ready for the week ahead, not cooking up a Sunday roast to feed the family. If you would rather not cook it, but you still want to eat a delicious Sunday roast Chichester, come to The Hole In The Wall where we can provide exactly what – crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, succulent meat, and of course, a wonderful gravy to cover it all. It’s exactly what Sundays are all about.

If you don’t want the full Sunday roast experience, that’s not a problem. We offer a lighter option too with our Sunday brunch and lunch. Make your Sunday what you want it to be, and let us do the hard work.

House Smoked Meats

We try to make everything as local and authentic as we can, which is why we have a selection of house smoked meats on offer in our menu. The Big Smoke Meat Board is a great choice whether you have it as a starter or you want to share it as a snack. It consists of half barbecue ribs, chicken wings, Thai spiced chicken skewers, fennel sausage, and some Padron peppers to finish things off. Not many other restaurants near Chichester can offer all of that.

We’re proud of this dish, and if you’re a meat lover, it’s going to be an ideal way to whet the appetite.

Vegetarian Options

Although we’re big on meat, we cater to our vegetarian guests too, and we do it in an interesting, tasty way. Options on our menu include mac and cheese, nachos, our fabulous halloumi burger, and our special vegan pizza. We also cater for food allergies, so just ask when you’re ordering.

Come To The Hole In The Wall For Your Next Function

At The Hole In The Wall, we love to host functions, parties, get together, events, so why not get in touch to find out exactly what we can offer? If you’re not sure that a pub – even one as great as ours – is the right place for your function, read on for just some of the reasons why you should try us out; we’re sure we can surprise you in the best possible way.

Take The Pressure Off

Organising a function can be hard work, no matter whether it’s a birthday, christening party, Christmas event, or even a corporate lunch. No matter what it is and who is attending, you’ll want to get it just right, and that can put you under a lot of pressure.

Come to us when you’re looking for Christmas party venues Chichester, and we’ll take all that pressure and stress away from you. Tell us what you need, how many people you’re going to invite, what kind of food you want, whether you want to hire our excellent function room or enjoy our 40 seat garden, and we’ll do the rest. All you need to do is arrive on the day and enjoy the party you’ve arranged and listen to the great comments from your guests as to how much fun they’re having and what a good job you’ve done.

Value For Money

Organising a party is one thing, paying for it is quite another, and sometimes when you think you’ve found a great venue, you’ll be hit with a bill that puts quite the dampner on the entire event. That won’t happen at The Hole In The Wall. Choose us when you’re looking for birthday party venues Chichester, and you’ll get great value for money.

Talk to us about your needs and requirements, tell us what you’re looking for, let us know if there is anything special you have in mind, and we can come up with a party plan that suits not only what you want but also your budget. We’re happy to help!  

Choices

We have a lot of choices when it comes to your venue hire Chichester. Take our range of drinks, for example; we have 8 cask ales, 4 ciders, and 40 gins, not to mention the craft beers and the wine as well as plenty of soft drinks we have available.

Then there’s the food – we have a variety of choice in this department too. From buffets to sit down meals, and even a wonderful Sunday roast, we’re proud of the menu choices we have on offer and we think you’ll enjoy them too.

Of course, we also have a choice as to where your function can take place. There’s the function room itself, or the newly refurbished bar area, or our lovely garden space. Depending on the number of people you have coming to your event and the time of year, we can usually accommodate your requests and we try to do all we can to make your event a great one.