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Following the success of last year’s staff Christmas Food Hall evening, we’ll be decking the halls of Eat Central once more on Wednesday 9 December from 6pm.

All staff are invited to come along for a festive three-course dinner, plus plenty of entertainment and special prizes. It’s the perfect way to see out the year with your friends and colleagues.

Read on to find out what’s in store this year and how to get your ticket.

What’s in store

• Free festive cocktail on arrival
• Three-course menu
• Table entertainment, including a magician and Christmas quiz
• DJ and dancefloor
• Photo booth
• Prizes for everyone, plus our special top prize: an exclusive four-course lunch for four prepared by our award-winning chef, Michael King!
• After-party at Falmer Bar!

The Menu

Option 1: Traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings
Local butcher’s turkey, thyme roast potatoes, chef’s proper gravy, pigs in blankets, roast roots, chestnut sprouts and Sussex brassica

-OR-

Vegan: Sussex nut roast wrapped in local Savoy leaves, with a wild mushroom and truffle duxelles centre, served with all the trimmings

-OR-

Alternative allergen option: Chestnut mushroom, butternut squash, thyme and red wine mini pie (contains mustard and sulphites only)

Option 2: Festive smash burgers (back by popular demand)
The Moo-dolph: Local butcher’s 5oz beef smash patty topped with crispy pancetta and Sussex blue cheese sauce, served in a brioche bun

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The Rudolph: Local butcher’s venison patty with Cumberland mayo, braised red cabbage and roast chestnut salsa, served in a brioche bun (vegan option available)

Burgers are served with rosemary fries, a gravy dipping pot and a choice pigs in blankets or breaded brie and cranberry.

Dessert
Chocolate and hazelnut Ferrero Rocher bombs with chocolate cremoso, candied nut crumb

-OR-

Chocolate orange sphere

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Traditional Christmas pudding with sauces

To Finish

Warm, locally-sourced mince pies.

How to book

Tickets cost £29 per person and are available to purchase now. For individual tickets, please visit Eat Central and pay at any counter. For group bookings and questions, please email cateringservices@compass-group.co.uk.

The reviews are in

The 2025 Christmas Food Hall was a truly memorable evening - but don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what last year’s guests had to say...

"We had a great time at the Sussex Christmas event last night! The decorations were magical (the Sussex in the snow pictures were fantastic!) and the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and joyous. The Sussex Uni Food team did an amazing job and were full of Christmas cheer! There as good music, great food, and some lovely surprises through the evening which kept the party going! We’re already looking ahead to next year!"

"A lot of fun; Brilliant DJ; Great atmosphere; a feast of excellent food; just what was needed; Sussex Uni Good staff were hardworking and cheerful – a credit to the team; Brilliant idea – let’s do it again!" 

"Thanks to you and your team for such a fabulous evening. Everyone is raving about it online this morning, so please feed it back to Mark and the team at Eat Central, who worked so hard to make it such a wonderful evening for us all - the decorations, the quality of the food, the disco, the cocktails and all additional little touches, made it such a special evening for us all to come together!" 

"Reaching out to say a huge "thank you" to you and your teams for putting on a great party night last night. Well organised, good food and most of all fun."

“I was lucky enough to win the special prize four-course meal, and the experience was absolutely amazing! From the dedicated space and table set-up to the service and, of course, the drinks, everything was spot on.

Each dish was spectacular, with its own unique approach and unexpected flavours. My guest and I were genuinely impressed by the level of skill and creativity, and we’re still talking about that incredible dessert that brought the whole experience to a fantastic close!

I can’t thank the Sussex Uni Food team and Chef Mike enough for such a wonderful experience.”