Derby restaurant claims more people opting for curry on Christmas day than Turkey
Published On Friday 19 Dec 2025 by Sticky Beak
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Diners at a Derby restaurant are ditching Turkey in favour of gourmet curries and spice this Christmas.
For the very first time in its four-year history, Nicco Restaurant & Bar will be open on Christmas Day this year. However, much to the owner's surprise, diners are saying no to traditional Christmas Day fayre and opting for dishes with a little festive fire.
Bhav Kumar, co-owner of the Pride Park based business, said: “This will be the first time we’ll be open on December 25th. We’ve gone all out to create a menu that will appeal to all tastes offering our guest the choice of traditional Christmas dinner or an Indian inspired celebratory lunch or dinner.
“To our surprise, some 85 percent of the pre-orders have opted for a Christmas themed curry feast.”
Those looking for a menu that offered something a little bit different certainly found it at Nicco's.
Alongside the traditional Christmas menu, Nicco’s Indian Twist Christmas Day menu includes a choice of black pepper chicken, herb paneer tikka, and barrah kebabs for starters, lamb beliram, laal maas, and prawn konkani among the main courses and white forest yule log and baked gingerbread cheesecake starring as just a couple of the choices of dessert.
The traditional Christmas day menu including starters such as duck and orange pate, smoked salmon salad and root vegetable soup will also have some little tweaks though.
Mains of rosemary and orange turkey will include roasted tandoori potatoes to give an Indian inspired twist. The sauteed lemon seabass will also be accompanied by tandoori potatoes, festive veg and masala hollandaise sauce. Of course, desserts will also include traditional christmas pudding and a triple cheese board.
Customers snapped up Christmas day slots at Nicco’s as they were being released and have now totally sold out for the late sitting. The record-breaking speed of the bookings and customers choice of menu proved to restaurant owners that Derby diners were ready to ditch the turkey for a festive feast with a difference.
The team at Nicco invested a hefty sum to transform the restaurant into a festive wonderland this year, and even enlisted the help of a celebrity decorator to add a bit of sparkle to proceedings.
The trend for an alternative Christmas menu isn’t a Derby phenomenon. According to recipe box business, Gousto and its Festive Feasting 2025 study, tastes across the UK are modernising and in 2025 “turkey is no longer the only show in town”.
In fact, the research showed only 37 per cent of UK households serve just turkey with the company stating that a more flexible, personalised Christmas menu was proving popular. It said: “It’s proof that Britain’s festive dining traditions are evolving to suit modern palates and pocketbooks alike.”
The Daily Mail also reported that a poll of 2,000 Brits found that the younger generations were adding Mexican, African and Chinese cuisine, along with a nut roast to their Christmas dining choices.
And it’s not a new trend either. Back in December 2023, Retail Times reported that one in six Brits said they would rather have a curry than a Christmas dinner, based on research by Instaprint.
Bhav said: “We are looking forward to welcoming diners on Christmas day to enjoy a gourmet meal whatever their tastes, and we are looking forward to offering something bespoke for one day only.”
With the popularity of the Derby favourite restaurant evident, Nicco’s is continuing the celebrations with a New Year’s Eve extravaganza, with tickets already 80% sold out.
Following in the footsteps of last year's glamorous James Bond New Year’s Eve event, Nicco’s is hosting The Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve party.
Tickets are priced at £99 for adults and £49 for children.
Early booking is recommended for events and tables in the run up to Christmas and the New Year. Visit niccorestaurant.com For bookings over 10 please call 01332 229220.
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