MORRISONS in Devizes is opening its café to Christmas party groups of up to 20 people from local firms and other organisations.

The supermarket retailer is offering £7.50 a head three-course meals including prawn cocktail starters, British turkey and all the trimmings and traditional Christmas pudding and custard.

The Christmas Meal Deal has been created in response to new research which shows that 70 per cent of UK employees expect cutbacks to their works parties this Christmas.

Works parties could be hit by tough trading conditions, economic uncertainty and fragile confidence, with one in twenty expecting to be cancelled all together.

Tables for up to 20 can be booked at the Estcourt Street store in Devizes now for Monday, November 25 to Monday, December 23.

The Morrisons Christmas Meal Deal starts from £6.50 a head for a two-course meal or £7.50 a head for the full three-courses.

In a touch of festive generosity, Morrisons is serving all Christmas dinners with roast and mashed potato. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.

Helen Tordoff, head of cafes at Morrisons, said: “Some small businesses have had a tough year so we have created the best Christmas meal for those on a budget.

“As our cafés regularly host group meet ups, we thought we’d extend the invite to local companies so they can save some Christmas costs. It will mean that more people can get into the party spirit without breaking the bank.”

Three of the four Morrisons supermarkets in Wiltshire have cafes. They are the stores in Chippenham, Devizes and Warminster. The Westbury stores does not have one.

The two-course for £6.50 or three-course for £7.50, menu includes:

Starters:

• Fresh Soup: Fresh soup served with a freshly baked bap.

• Pate & Melba Toast: Brussels pâté served with balsamic onion chutney, salad and Melba toast.

• Prawn Cocktail: Prawn cocktail served with salad and brown bread.

Mains:

• Christmas Turkey Lunch: Turkey, roast potatoes, mash, carrots, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, pig in blanket, gravy and cranberry sauce.

• Mushroom Wellington: Mushroom Wellington served with golden roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots and drizzled with gravy.

• Salmon with hollandaise: salmon fillet topped with hollandaise sauce. Served with baby potatoes and peas.

Desserts:

• Christmas Pudding: Christmas pudding served with brandy sauce or custard.

• Kelly’s Ice Cream: chocolate or strawberry.

To book a table, visit the Morrisons Devizes store and ask for the Café Manager or Community Champion. For more information, visit: www.morrisons.co.uk