DEMAND for large Christmas parties is changing according to one Winchester businessman.

Miff Kayum, owner of a number of restaurants in the city centre, said he has seen a decreasing number of customers make big bookings for company Christmas parties and instead seen a rise in the number of smaller ones.

He said, while the change might be largely due to financial constraints, he feels Winchester workpeople enjoy a more intimate-style party for their annual Christmas do.

“When you sit down with about 20 people you can’t talk to everybody but with a smaller group you get to speak to as many people as you want,” he said. “It’s an interesting one this year. We’re not getting so many company parties. Over the last couple of years company bookings have been dwindling.

“People are having smaller, more intimate parties, and they are a great thing, particularly at Bangkok Brasserie and Kyoto Kitchen. Demand for smaller parties has gone through the roof. Rather than the big 20, 30, or 70 people in one year, which we have had before, people are quite sensitive to financial constraints.”

Mr Kayum said that, while the numbers may have changed, they have certainly not lowered.

In fact he says Kyoto Kitchen – one of his four restaurants – is seeing a surge of custom particularly following the announcement that it has been shortlisted as Restaurant of the Year for the 2014 Hampshire Life Food and Drink Awards.

“We’re also seeing a lot of calls for outside catering rather than in the restaurant. People are doing home dining and businesses too,” he added. “It’s also nice for us because we can offer a more tailored service. We’re also doing sushi demonstrations but, again, for more intimate parties – a smaller number of clients. It’s good because that way we can guarantee a very high quality, it’s much more niche, almost boutiquey.”