Hosting for Christmas? If so, we’re sure you’ve already got the champagne chilling and the coupes ready to go. But if you’re having the whole family over, keeping on top of everyone’s drink orders can be, it’s fair to say, stressful – especially if you throw cocktails into the mix. While we’re a sucker for a evening espresso martini (we love this recipe) and a Boxing Day margarita (find inspiration here), the key to being a good host is not sweating the small stuff (including complicated drinks) – so what better way to impress your guests while taking the pressure off than with a batch-made festive punch?

If the idea of punch brings sickly-sweet, lukewarm Pimms-style concoctions to mind, The Wigmore is on a mission to prove its Christmas punch is anything but. The posh pub at The Langham, with menus overseen by lauded French chef Michel Roux Jr, is a truly festive bolthole, festooned with Christmas trees and fairylights housed in a former banking hall. Just moments from Regent Street and Oxford Circus, it’s a restful haven a world away from the chaos of last-minute Christmas shopping.

The Wigmore drinks list is simple but extremely effective, featuring cask ales, including its very own Saison beer, alongside a concise cocktail menu. New for this month is a decadent crowd-pleaser: Guinness Dark Cherry Punch. Rich and creamy with a touch of stout that will be a hit with Guinness fans, we bagged the recipe so you can batch make this for Christmas – and show off your hosting skills in the process.

Kraken Black Spiced Rum

£27.50

Buy Now

Monin Cherry Syrup

£8.50

Buy Now

Visit langhamhotels.com

Read more: Black Forest Espresso Martini cocktail recipe by The Laundry