Christmas

Have a stress-free Christmas with tips from Declan Maxwell, Michelin’s service guru

The manager of Spitalfields restaurant in Dublin, and winner of the Michelin Welcome & Service Award 2023, on how to avoid meltdowns and mess

Declan Maxwell, manager of Spitalfields restaurant in Dublin, said most things can be prepped 48 hours in advance of Christmas Day. Picture: Bryan Meade.

Are you suffering from festive stress? It would be odd if you weren’t, given that we are currently being bombarded with picture-perfect Instagram posts featuring bougie gifts, over the top decorations and blissfully happy families.

But those cutesy seasonal ads and classic movies don’t feature the Christmas morning meltdowns where you’re panicking about fitting the turkey, ham and potatoes in the oven all at once. Sometimes, what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of ...