Brunch with Santa

Hickory's Smokehouse in Milton Keynes is doing Brunch with Santa on Sunday 6 December, between 9am and 1pm. It's a Southern-style American brunch with a Christmas twist, and the kids' side of things takes up a good bit of the morning.

When they arrive, children get a welcome drink — either jingle juice or Santa's Slush — and there's a movie room showing festive films. There are table-top games and activities to keep them occupied, and a Santa pancake special on the menu. The kids' menu itself was put together by an in-house team of mums and dads, so it's built around things they'll actually eat: mac 'n' cheese, burgers, cod bites and fluffy pancakes, with Freakshakes for the older ones.

While the kids are sorted, the adults have their own Southern-style brunch to work through. There's the Hot Honey Pork Burnt Ends Waffle, the Pitmaster Stack muffin and the Hog & The Hen, with bottomless coffee and a Bloody Mary made with the restaurant's own tomato spice mix. It's a proper sit-down meal, so you can take your time with it while the kids are busy with the activities.

One thing to keep in mind: every child who sees Santa and gets a gift needs a Santa Pass, which costs £10 per child. You pay for that on the booking portal within 72 hours of booking, rather than at the restaurant on the day, and a donation goes to Cash For Kids. The whole thing runs on Sunday 6 December from 9am to 1pm at Hickory's Smokehouse.