Wisteria Hotel in Oakham is "delighted to announce" new partnerships with two local independent food businesses, Mediterranean Palate and Sarpech Indian Restaurant, bringing an "exciting range" of Christmas party and private dining options to the hotel this festive season.

Whether it's the office Christmas party, a festive lunch with colleagues, a family get together or an evening celebrating with friends, the new partnerships will give groups the "opportunity to enjoy their own private celebration at Wisteria Hotel, with a choice of menus and styles to suit different occasions and budgets".

The move forms part of a new approach to food and dining at Wisteria Hotel which puts collaboration with other independent Rutland hospitality businesses at its heart.

Something different for Christmas 2026

For those looking for a traditional Christmas celebration, Mediterranean Palate will be providing a plated festive lunch and dinner menu, including traditional roast turkey as well as alternatives such as slow-braised beef short rib, herb-crusted salmon and a wild mushroom and chestnut Wellington.

Two courses are priced at £37 per person and three courses at £47 per person.

For a more informal party, Mediterranean Palate will also offer Festive Grazing Tables and Canapés, combining British Christmas favourites with Mediterranean flavours and designed for guests to eat, drink and mingle together.

Sarpech Indian Restaurant will bring another dimension to Christmas celebrations at the hotel, with relaxed festive catering including hot fork buffets, finger buffets, grazing tables and canapés.

Its Christmas offering includes dishes ranging from chicken tikka makhani and biryani to tandoori salmon, curries and a selection of accompaniments, alongside more informal party food and grazing options.

Groups will be able to celebrate in one of Wisteria Hotel's private function spaces, including the Georgian Suite, Barn Lounge and Barn Suite, with options available for intimate gatherings through to parties of up to 80 to 100 guests, subject to the chosen room layout and entertainment requirements.

Festive Afternoon Tea

Wisteria Hotel's own Festive Afternoon Tea will also return for Christmas 2026, offering a relaxed way for families and friends to celebrate together.

Served daily from 12pm–5pm, the festive menu includes finger sandwiches, pigs in blankets sausage rolls, Christmas-spiced and traditional scones, festive cakes, locally roasted Two Chimps coffee and loose-leaf tea.

Festive Afternoon Tea is priced at £34.50 per person, with Prosecco and Champagne upgrades available. Private rooms can also be arranged for larger gatherings.

Supporting local hospitality

The partnerships reflect Wisteria Hotel's desire to work more closely with other independent hospitality businesses and showcase the variety of food and drink available in Rutland.

Kristy Carey, owner at Wisteria Hotel, said: "We're really excited about Christmas this year.

"We wanted to create something that gives people much more choice about how they celebrate, whether that's a traditional sit-down Christmas meal, a relaxed grazing table, canapés and drinks, something with the fantastic flavours Sarpech is known for, or a festive Afternoon Tea with family and friends.

"For us, this is also about collaboration. Rutland has some fantastic independent food and hospitality businesses, and we believe that by working together we can create something even better for our guests and customers.

"We're incredibly proud to be partnering with Mediterranean Palate and Sarpech Indian Restaurant and we hope people will embrace the opportunity to celebrate Christmas locally with us."

To find out more about The Wisteria Hotel, click here to visit the website.