Member Article

20% will eat Christmas dinner off their knees

LAPLAND may be closer to home than you think this Christmas, as a staggering 20% of people in the North West will be eating Christmas dinner on their knees this year, to accommodate visits from family and friends on the big day.

And it’s hats off to the hosts too - who will this year will be catering for an average of up to ten guests for traditional Christmas dinner – with as many as five of them staying overnight.

The startling seasonal stats were identified in a new study conducted by five star house builder, David Wilson Homes (DWH). More than 2,000 homeowners across the country were quizzed, 500 of which were from North West towns and cities that neighbour David Wilson Homes developments.

Families in the region will typically squeeze between six and ten dinner guests round the table (47%), however nearly 10% serve up Christmas dinner to up to 15 friends and relatives. More than one in ten families stretch their dinner guests across two rooms.

Commenting on the findings, DWH North West sales director, Steve Jackson, said: “As with all surveys of this kind, they’re really just a bit of fun, but some of the stats have surprised us. We know that demand for bigger recreational spaces downstairs is increasing to meet the changing dynamic of family life.

“More and more of our customers require big, open-plan kitchens to accommodate larger family gatherings, not just at Christmas, but all year round. Luckily with Help to Buy Equity Loan and the new Help to Buy Isa, more and more homebuyers are able to buy the property of their choice.”

The research also revealed that most families (72%) will be putting up as many as five guests over night during the Christmas period, with an unfortunate few (15%) giving up the comfort of their own beds for guests. One in ten guests will end up sleeping on the floor.

And finally – when it comes to the all-important seating plan – it seems that the majority of us are suckers for sitting next to our mums and partners for Christmas dinner (60%), leaving dad, grandparents, siblings, friends and other relatives to fight it out for themselves.

DWH North West specialises in building larger than average, luxury family homes, offering homes for sale across the North West. For more information visit www.dwh.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by George Osborne .