Christmas 2026

Christmas Menus

At The Lion Hotel, Criccieth

Five festive menus in Llewelyn's Restaurant, from party nights in November to a relaxed Boxing Day dinner.

Festive Plated Menu

Festive Dining at Its Finest

Available 21st November – 20th December. A refined celebration for a truly magical season: our chefs have carefully crafted a menu that celebrates the very best of winter's flavours.

Starters

Wild Mushroom SoupA rich and velvety wild mushroom soup, finished with fresh herbs

Duck & Pork ParfaitSpiced kumquats, brioche and hazelnut

Flaky Poached SalmonBlinis with lemon, crème fraîche & rocket salad

Chargrilled Halloumi SaladBroken wheat, cherry tomatoes, salad leaves, red onion, pomegranate balsamic dressing

Mains

Lamb Ragu GnocchiSlow-cooked lamb in a red wine sauce, parmesan & gnocchi

Herb Roast TurkeyPigs in blankets, winter carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, herb roast potatoes & rich roast gravy

Sizzling Spiced PrawnsServed with garlic potato wedges and herb salad

Luxury Chestnut RoastWinter carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, herb roast potatoes & rich roast gravy

Desserts

Traditional Christmas PuddingBrandy sauce with Cheshire Strawberry Ice Cream

Lemon TartServed with sorbet and winter berries

Add a little extra sparkle: half a bottle of house wine per person +£10 per guest. Christmas crackers included on every table. Buffet menu option available (supplement charges apply). £15 non-refundable deposit per guest; pre-orders due 7 days before the event.

Christmas Eve 3-Course Dinner

An Evening to Remember

Thursday 24th December · 5:00pm – 9:00pm. Celebrate the magic of Christmas Eve with an unforgettable three-course dining experience, each dish showcasing festive flavours and seasonal favourites.

Starters

Wild Mushroom SoupA rich and velvety wild mushroom soup, finished with fresh herbs

Korean Inferno WingsCrunchy Korean-style wings coated in a spicy Korean sauce

Golden Coast Crispy CalamariLightly coated crispy calamari, served with mango mole, burnt lemon and garlic aioli

Mains

Three Cheese TagliatelleWith truffle oil and pulled chicken

Butter ChickenA Delhi-born classic served with saffron rice, poppadum, paratha & cucumber salad

Poached SalmonWith grilled cherry vine tomato and parsley mash, with lemon butter sauce

Grand Southern Fried ChickenServed with four cabbage slaw, peri peri chips and chilli garlic relish

Paneer Tikka MasalaServed with saffron rice, poppadum, paratha & cucumber salad

Desserts

CheesecakeWith mixed berries compote

Sticky Toffee PuddingWith custard

Christmas Day Lunch

A Celebration of Festive Elegance

Friday 25th December · 12:00pm – 3:00pm. Begin your celebration with Prosecco, Bucks Fizz and canapés, followed by a sumptuous Christmas Day Lunch served from 12 noon onwards.

A Sparkling Welcome

Join us at your table for a glass of Prosecco or Bucks Fizz, accompanied by a tempting selection of seasonal canapés — the perfect way to begin your Christmas at The Lion's Den.

Each table is set with a bottle of still or sparkling water, festive Christmas crackers, and a sprinkling of Yuletide magic.

Starters

Spiced Pumpkin and Butter Bean PotWith herb croutons and Greek yoghurt

Silky Chicken Liver ParfaitWith apple chutney and toasted brioche

Salmon GravlaxCeleriac remoulade, capers, honey mustard dressing

Oven-Baked Goat Cheese SaladCrisp mixed leaves topped with warm oven-baked goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, toasted walnuts and red onion, finished with a drizzle of honey and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette

Mains

Roast Sirloin of BeefServed with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, rich port wine jus

Traditional Roast TurkeyWith Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, rich port wine jus

Roasted Sea BassWith buttered Savoy cabbage and chive butter sauce

Vegan WellingtonFilled with wild mushrooms, chestnuts, cranberries, sweet potato and sage, served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegan brown gravy

All mains are served with pigs in blankets, honey-roasted carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and chestnuts.

Sweet Finale

Classic Christmas PuddingClotted cream ice cream and warm brandy sauce

Indulgent Chocolate FondantWith Cheshire Strawberry Ice Cream

Fine Cheese SelectionRed onion marmalade, grapes and crackers

To Conclude the Celebration

Freshly brewed coffee, decadent chocolates & traditional mince pies.

Christmas Day Dinner Buffet

An Evening of Festive Indulgence

Friday 25th December · 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Continue the celebrations with an abundant selection of festive favourites, seasonal delicacies and indulgent desserts. From hearty classics to sweet seasonal treats, there's something for everyone.

Soup Station

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

Salad & Bread Selection

Five Bean Salad

Korean Inferno Wings

Garlic Bread

Hot Buffet

Ruby's Chicken Jalfrezi

Heritage Lamb Casserole

Garlic Buttered Mash Potato

Ghee Basmati Rice

Truffle-Inspired Alfredo Mac

Dessert Selection

PhirniTraditional creamy ground rice pudding, delicately flavoured with cardamom

Gulab JamunSoft, golden milk dumplings served warm with fragrant sugar syrup and vanilla ice cream

Boxing Day Dinner

A Relaxed Festive Finale

Saturday 26th December · 5:00pm – 9:00pm. Unwind after the excitement of Christmas with a delightful Boxing Day dinner, where seasonal flavours and comforting classics come together in a warm and welcoming setting.

Starters

Cream of Mushroom SoupA rich and velvety cream of mushroom soup, finished with fresh herbs

Escabeche Pepper WhitebaitCrispy whitebait seasoned with escabeche pepper, served with burnt lemon and aioli

Imperial Chicken GoujonsServed with rocket salad and aioli dip

Mains

Lamb Rogan JoshOriginating from the royal Wazwan tradition of Kashmir, served with saffron rice, poppadum, paratha & cucumber salad

Azure Pan Seared Atlantic SalmonServed with creamed potato, glazed seasonal vegetables and rich crustacean bisque

Aurora Glazed Chicken SupremeGolden roast supreme served with tomato cream velouté sauce, mash potatoes & garlic confit vegetables

Flame Grilled Stack Burger8oz juicy flame grilled beef patty, gherkins, pickled onions, tomato, lettuce, bacon, signature sauce & cheese on a toasted brioche bun

Truffle Three Cheese Mac Royale PastaMacaroni pasta blended with cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheese in velvety cheese sauce

Desserts

Lemon TartWith sorbet and winter berries

GateauxServed with pouring cream

Festive Drinks Packages & Stays

Start in the bar, end in a bed upstairs

Drinks Packages

Bottomless Pre-Dinner Drinks & Canapés — £35 pp. 60 minutes of beer, house wine, cider & soft drinks in our bar.
Beer & Cider Bucket — £20. Six assorted bottles to the table.
Exotic Lion Drinks Package — £80. Three bottles of wine (white, rosé or red) & eight bottles of beer & cider.
Half a bottle of house wine — +£10 per guest with the Festive Plated Menu.

A double bedroom at The Lion Hotel with a view of Criccieth Castle

Make a Night of It

Bed & breakfast for two — from £89 per room. £20 supplement per night on Fridays & Saturdays.
Two-Night Christmas Package — from £225 pp. Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day lunch & evening buffet, bed & breakfast.
Three-Night Christmas Package — from £299 pp. As above, plus Boxing Day dinner and a third breakfast.

Package Details

Reservations

Book Your Christmas at The Lion

We would love to welcome you

Christmas tables and rooms go early. Christmas Day Lunch can now be booked online with live availability. For everything else, call and our team will take your booking, deposit and pre-order over the phone, or send us an email and we will come back to you.

Party nights from 21st November
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day dining
Two- and three-night residential packages

To book, call 01766 522460 The Lion Hotel, Y Maes, Criccieth LL52 0AA

Book Christmas Day Online Call Now Christmas Page

Pre-booking, pre-payment & pre-ordering are essential. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available; please tell us about any dietary requirements when you pre-order. A full allergen guide is available on request.