Start your party right

'Partying is in our blood: in our restaurants Gloria and Circolo, you’ll always see someone from the team singing, dancing or just in a great mood,' says Ben Kenyon of Big Mamma Group. 'CuratedSpotify playlists are best when they’re not too ‘cool’– classics from the Noughties get the party started.'

Here's what else Ben suggests:

1 raise the bar

We want to reflect the party vibe in the design of our restaurants with open kitchens and bars that bring the theatre of food preparation closer to the guests. Thisis very much in line with the trend for open-plan kitchens in the home but be sure to get the height of your bar stools right for guests to perch on.

Allow at least 20 to 25cm for legs to fit comfortably under the bar or worktop. Stools with a gas-lift mechanism are ideal for this as the seat can be raised or lowered accordingly.

(Image credit: James Merrell)

2 THEME IT

There are many ways tomake dining feel festive.Rather than a formal setting,we prefer a laid-backapproach with custom-madetableware that brings extrajoy to our dishes. While tableware doesn’t have to match, create consistency with a key colour or theme. Too many mismatched items can look jarring.

(Image credit: Styling : Lucy Gough. Photography, Oliver Perrott)

3 COMFORT ZONE

Comfort is key when it comes to seating. You don’t want your guests to feel the need to leave the table as soon as the meal is over. In Circolo, we encourage guests to linger for longer at our whitewashed booths with cosy patterned woven blankets and long bench cushions. Consider an outdoor fabric to upholster your banquette, particularly if you have children.

The qualities that enable these fabrics to withstand the elements make them ideal for busy family homes.

(Image credit: Matthew Williams)

Check out these stylish and sociable dining spaces.

4 FUN WITH FOLIAGE

Above the tables in Circolo, the wisteria-covered ceiling (real dried plants) is scattered with thousands of festoon lights, just like a summer Sicilian wedding. While a ceiling like this may not be practical at home, bring greenery into your space with plants such as English ivy or Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts plant) that can be mounted at ceiling height to trail down the wall.

(Image credit: Styling: Lucy Gough; Photography, Simon Bevan)

5 TO BOLDLY GO

We also love vibrant colours and textures. In Gloria, the main dining room is bright and airy with old-school striped booths in baby blue, peach and bright yellow. When using a bold pattern on seating, use co-ordinating block colourson cushions to harmonise.

6 LAYERS OF LIGHT

We use a variety of lightingin our trattorias, which allows us to create different moods. Think hand-woven lamps, festoon lights, Murano glass pendants and vintage lamps and candles. Always install a dimmer – multiple sources of dimmed lighting are much cosier than spotlights. Also, use warmer tones of yellowor white lighting to create a cosy atmosphere.

7 MAKE IT FUN

Don’t take design too seriously! We like to add a few little surprises, like a sexy red neon sign (Gloria) or an unexpected green halo over the Virgin Mary (Circolo). Hang fun lights out of reach of children and where they won’t get knocked. Also thinkabout where sockets are as it will need to be plugged in.

(Image credit: Styling: Lucy Gough; Photography: Simon Bevan)

For info on Gloria and Circolo, visit bigmammagroup.com

Find more Christmas dining ideas.