Christmas Chaos Is Coming: Here’s How Smart Venues Get Ahead (While Everyone Else Burns Out)
- Ben Maher
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
Every year, the same thing happens.
December sneaks up…Bookings explode…Staff get tired…Systems crack under pressure…And café and restaurant owners start saying things like:
“We’ll fix it in January.”“We just need to get through the next two weeks.”“We’re drowning.”
But here’s the thing:December doesn’t have to be chaos.And the venues who prepare now — right now — are the ones who profit the most and stress the least.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, this is your chance to reset, tighten your systems, and walk into the busiest period of the year with actual confidence instead of crossed fingers.
Let’s break down exactly how.
🎁 1. Lock in Your Systems Before the Rush Hits
Every venue has good intentions, but in December?
Intentions go out the window.Systems either work — or they don’t.
Before the madness kicks in, make sure you have:
Clear prep lists
Up-to-date food safety logs
Opening/closing checklists
A proper Christmas roster that won’t burn your team out
A plan for public holidays, surcharges, and reduced suppliers
Backup procedures for staff shortages and no-shows
This is where venues either rise… or fall.
If you’re sick of scrambling, the Food Safety Success System gives you a plug-and-play setup that keeps everything humming in the background — even while you’re slammed.
🎄 2. Simplify Your Menu for Maximum Profit
Christmas isn’t the time for complicated dishes or slow-moving stock.
Smart venues:
✔ Strip back the menu✔ Focus on your best sellers✔ Dial in portions + pricing✔ Clear out dead stock✔ Introduce 1–2 hero Christmas items only if they’re profitable
A simple, dialled-in menu is the difference between a 12-hour slog and a clean, controlled service.
🎅 3. Look After Your Staff (or They’ll Check Out Early)
December burnout is real in hospitality.
Your team is tired, customers are emotional, and everyone is running on leftover candy canes and iced lattes.
A few small things go a long way:
A staff Christmas lunch
Letting them choose the playlist one day a week
Extra breaks on scorchers
A little thank-you note or gift
A clear “no tolerance for abuse” policy
Happy staff = smoother service = more revenue.It’s the simplest maths in hospitality.
🧊 4. Prepare for Heatwaves & Food Safety Risks
December + Queensland temperatures = trouble if you’re not proactive.
Check now:
Fridge & freezer seals
Prep fridge temps
Ice machine maintenance
Delivery storage plans
Staff refresher on cooling times, hot holding, allergens
A quick check now saves a lot of pain (and potential fines) later.
My Food Safety Success System includes everything from logs to procedures to daily checks — all written and formatted for real Queensland venues.
🎁 5. Don’t Leave Compliance Until “Next Year”
January is usually clean-up month…But for many venues, it’s also inspection month.
If your systems aren’t tight in December, January becomes a scramble.
Now is the perfect time to:
Update your food safety program
Replace missing or outdated logs
Train new staff
Reorganise back-of-house
Streamline workflows
Give yourself the gift of not panicking in the new year.
🌟 Your Christmas Advantage: Let Me Do the Heavy Lifting
If you want December to run smoother than it ever has — and go into 2026 with clarity and control — there are three ways I can help:
Plug-and-play, QLD-compliant, council-friendly.Essentials & Pro Editions available.
Get a Christmas menu that is profitable, simple, and easy to execute.
Rosters, workflows, kitchen flow, systems… I’ll get you sorted before the rush hits.
🌟 Ready to Make This December Easier, Smoother, and More Profitable?
If you want your systems locked in, your team confident, and your compliance sorted before the Christmas rush hits, I’ve got you covered.
Explore all consulting options — including food safety programs, menu development, systems, and operational support — here:
This is the perfect moment to strengthen your venue before the holiday wave rolls in.
Here’s to a smoother, saner, more profitable December.
Ben
Bam Bam Culinary Consultants
Elevate your venue.
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