The festive season is well underway, and if, like us, you’re a bit overwhelmed with choosing between the sheer volume of Christmas experiences, we’re here to tell you of one that won’t let you down. OXBO Bankside is offering a bottomless brunch that focuses on high-quality food, bottomless prosecco, red and white wine and just the right amount of festive magic. Kids all receive a soft drink, a 10-minute meet and greet with Santa, unlimited slushies and a gift and polaroid picture to take home. It’s somewhere you can head with your family, with friends or as a couple.
I arrived at the OXBO festive brunch when the weather was crisp, the sky blue and Christmas lights were twinkling. Tucked in the Hilton London Bankside, a short walk from Blackfriars station, it’s easy to get to no matter where you’re coming from. The brunch room is beautifully cosy and relaxed, with live music playing and low-level lighting. Wooden walls and ceiling make it feel like you’re stepping into an Alpine lodge, complete with a water feature and (fake) animal heads on the walls. Santa’s grotto is tucked just on the way in, again, feeling welcoming and relaxed. The overall design feels a lot more grown-up than many kid-centric venues where you end up feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve spent a lot of money to just be in and out of a grotto in the space of ten minutes. The OXBO Santa brunch provides you with a good few hours of festive fun, where you can spend time together, get into the festive spirit and know that you’re going to be well fed and watered.
Food wise, you have four courses included in the adult meal, alongside 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, making it one of the most generous bottomless brunches I’ve ever tried. Not only this, but they are very attentive with the drinks. I’ve been to some brunches where they take forever to top you up and you wonder if it’s really worth it at all. Food is laid out as a buffet-style starters, with a wide range of salads, meats, cheeses and breads, as well as little canape style options. It’s beautifully laid out and every dish tastes delicious. My toddler particularly enjoyed putting together a little meat platter which kept him happy and amused while we sipped a glass of prosecco and soaked up the atmosphere.
Next on the menu is their open-kitchen station, where you can have pancakes, waffles and different types of eggs cooked fresh for you. Hot, fresh, delicious and with a range of topplies you can choose yourself for your sweet options, it goes down well with both children and adults alike. The third course is brought out to you and that’s a Sunday roast. While it’s not the largest, by this point you don’t need it to be! My husband stated the beef he had was some of the best he’s ever tried, while my chicken was cooked perfectly and packed with flavour. The accompanying roast potatoes were light and fluffy on the inside, with a crispy outside. This was finished off with lashings of gravy and vegetables. Our little one was given a smaller roast and he also gave this the thumbs up!
While we ate, Santa made his way around the restaurant, ringing a bell and speaking to the children. It really added to the immersiveness of the experience, and children at all the tables were delighted. People in the brunch were taken at different intervals to go and meet with Santa at his grotto, where our toddler received a great gift and a polaroid photo to take home.
One of the best things about this brunch was the inclusivity. There were families laughing and joking, couples enjoying a drink and a meal out together, and groups of friends toasting to the festive celebrations.
The atmosphere was fun and just lively enough to have a great time, without it feeling overrun by screaming children where you just want to make a fast getaway. The food was amazing and every member of staff went above and beyond to ensure we and our toddler had the best time. It’s the ideal place to get in the Christmas spirit while also doing an activity that isn’t over in less than half an hour.
Santa brunch at OXBO Bankside is festive, beautiful and even the Scrooge himself would find it hard not to have a great time.
The Details
£42 – 4 courses
£62 – 4 Courses + 2 hours of free-flowing bubbles/wine
Kids 0-2 eat for free
Kids 3-12 – £25 + a soft drink, a 10-minute meet and greet with Santa, unlimited slushies, a gift and polaroid picture to take home!
Book your brunch here now
OXBO Bankside
2-8 Great Suffolk Street,
London SE1 0UG
