5 Upselling Techniques to Maximise Restaurant Orders at Christmas
BB
Brent Blevins
Nov 24, 2025
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Nov 24, 2025
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Nov 18, 2025
What if Christmas wasn’t just about squeezing in more customers, but also about getting each one to spend a little more and actually enjoy doing it? The festive season is when people loosen their belts (literally and figuratively) and lean into indulgence. Another glass of bubbly? Of course. A side of pigs in blankets? Why not. That dessert they swore they had no room for? Bring it over.
For pubs, hotels, and takeaways, this isn’t just a busy season; it’s a chance to turn festive cheer into bigger bills. Done right, upselling doesn’t feel like a sales tactic; it feels like helping customers make their Christmas dining that bit more special.
Did you know? Group bookings for holiday dining shot up by 38% in 2024 compared to the year before, with Christmas reservations alone climbing by 54%. Big groups mean set menus, bundled extras, and more opportunities to sell premium packages. That’s why smart upselling should be right at the top of your Christmas promotion ideas list.
So let’s unwrap five practical techniques that will have your tills jingling louder than the Christmas bells.
1. Make festive pairings easy
Customers love being guided, especially when it comes to food and drink. Pair dishes with festive extras and present them as the “perfect match.”
Roast dinner + mulled wine.
Turkey burger + cranberry-loaded fries.
Mince pies + spiced hot chocolate.
And don’t just list them plainly. Dress it up: “rich, warming mulled wine, perfect for a frosty evening”. This isn’t just menu writing; it’s one of the simplest yet most powerful restaurant marketing tips to boost sales.
2. Create limited-time specials
Scarcity makes people buy. When diners know something is available only for Christmas, they won’t want to miss out.
Think:
Gingerbread cheesecake.
Pigs in blankets platter.
Pizzas and burgers with festive turkey, cranberry, and brie.
Exclusive dishes make your place memorable and create easy Christmas ideas for restaurants to draw in new customers while upselling regulars.
3. Push festive drinks (they sell themselves)
Let’s be honest, festive drinks are liquid gold. Christmas cocktails, mocktails, mulled cider, or indulgent hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows are up-sells people rarely turn down.
Better still, drinks bundles sell themselves: “2 Christmas cocktails and sharing nibbles” or “Prosecco & mince pies.” Pair these with a dash of social media sparkle, and you’ve got an upsell strategy that feels less like selling and more like joining in the celebrations.
4. Offer sharing bundles & party platters
Christmas equals groups, whether it’s mates, families, or the dreaded office party. And groups mean bigger tabs.
This is where bundles shine:
“Office Party Feast” with mains, sides, and drinks.
“Family Christmas Feast” takeaway deal.
A pub “Festive Tapas Board” for sharing.
You know? Online bookings and digital dining sales jumped by 6.7% last festive season, driven by upselling gift cards, event menus, and seasonal experiences. If you’re not promoting these, you’re missing out on one of the easiest Christmas promotion ideas to increase ticket size.
A cheeky stat for you: Limited-time up-sells and Christmas bundles often mean diners in the UK spend 15–25% more per visit in December, not a bad little stocking filler for your revenue.
5. Train your team (and let tech do the rest)
Upselling isn’t about being pushy; it’s about being helpful. Train your staff to suggest extras naturally. a casual, “Would you like to add pigs in blankets to that?” or “Our Christmas cocktail pairs really well with your meal,” often does the trick.
At the same time, remember that customers like to feel in control of their dining experience. Update your online ordering systems and self-service kiosks with festive add-ons, so customers can make those choices themselves. This not only reduces pressure on your floor staff but also avoids any awkwardness of suggestions feeling too salesy.
Smart POS and ordering systems can handle these polite festive prompts automatically, turning upselling into a smooth, service-led experience rather than a hard sell.
Bonus upsell boosters
Gift Cards on Display: Easy money for you, easy last-minute gifts for them.
Desserts galore: Make your dessert menu impossible to miss. Whether it’s printed on table tents or popping up on your online menu, let those festive treats do the talking before customers ask for the bill.
Premium Upgrades: Add-on options like stuffing, cheesy toppings, or bigger portions.
Loyalty Rewards: Double points on festive orders through your loyalty scheme to encourage repeat visits.
Use Social Media: Showcase your festive specials daily. If customers see that gingerbread cheesecake often enough, they’ll order it just to get it out of their head.
These are simple but effective Christmas ideas for restaurants that add extra pounds to every order.
Wrapping it up
Christmas upselling isn’t about squeezing every penny from customers; it’s about giving them a better, more memorable festive experience. People want to indulge; you’re just helping them along. By pairing dishes, adding exclusives, pushing drinks, creating bundles, and training your team, you’ll boost sales without losing the festive cheer.
Want a hand making upselling effortless? Book a demo with Foodhub for Business and start your free trial today. From festive online ordering prompts to loyalty integrations, we’ve got the tools to make sure your tills keep jingling this Christmas.