Christmas 2026 Buying Guide: What to Buy for Dinners, Buffets and Drinks Receptions
How much to buy and what to get for a Christmas dinner, a buffet, a drinks reception or afternoon tea, with the full Kitchway Christmas buying guide.
Christmas is the busiest season for hospitality teams, and the kit you need is rarely the kit you already have. Whether you are hosting a full dinner for twelve, running a festive drinks reception or setting out a buffet for fifty, the right plates, glasses, serving pieces and fuel make the difference between a smooth service and a scramble in the kitchen.
This guide walks through how much to buy and what to buy for each type of festive event. Every product mentioned is sold by Kitchway, and all prices quoted on our full guide include VAT.
Read the full Christmas buying guide, with 110 products across 13 areas →
How much to buy
These are rules of thumb to start from. Adjust them for your guest count, your menu and how long the party runs.
- Dinner plates: one per guest, plus about 10% spares for breakage.
- Side and dessert plates: one per guest each, if you serve those courses on separate plates.
- Glasses: two to three per guest for a seated dinner (water and wine), and about two per guest for a standing drinks party, plus spares.
- Napkins: two per guest for a buffet, one per guest for a seated dinner.
- Platters and boards: one large platter or board for every eight to ten guests.
- Hot food on a buffet: one 1/1 GN chafing dish for every 15 to 20 guests, with spare fuel for the length of the party.
- Hot drinks: a 3-litre airpot pours roughly 20 standard cups of tea or coffee.
- Tealights: check the burn time on the pack against the length of the meal, and allow one per table setting.
What to buy for each occasion
Christmas dinner at home (6 to 12 guests)
- A full dinnerware set, or dinner plates, side plates and a pasta or dessert plate
- Table forks, knives and dessert spoons in an 18/0 or 18/10 stainless steel pack of 12
- Gin or whisky tumblers and a set of wine glasses
- Festive napkins and a red or white paper placemat for the kids' table
- Tealights and a glass holder for the centre of the table
Buffet for 30 to 50 guests
- Two chafing dishes with spare fuel for the hot mains
- Large platters and slate boards for cold food and cheese
- Two or three tiered stands for sweets and mince pies
- Napkins, paper covers and a stack of side plates
- A pair of airpots for coffee and tea at the end of the night
Festive drinks reception
- Champagne flutes for the toast, with spares
- Gin glasses and tumblers for cocktails and long drinks
- An ice bucket with tongs and a pair of serving pails
- A cocktail kit: strainers, cocktail spoons, picks and straws
- Tealights and lanterns for the bar area
Afternoon tea and festive cake
- Matching tea cups, saucers and a teapot or coffee pot
- A three-tier stand or a high tea rack
- A wooden tea box for loose leaf and sachets
- Cake tins and pie dishes for the baking
- Napkins and a small candle for the table
Before you order
- Check the pack size. Many cutlery and glassware lines are sold in packs of six or twelve, so check the quantity on each product page before you add it to your basket.
- Plan for breakage. Order a few spares of glassware and plates, especially for a standing party.