Winter Palace Gala Dinner

[Chris]

It seems that the Winter Palace has taken note of the higher currency exchange rate because the price of their 5 course Christmas Eve Gala Dinner, excluding drinks, is $120 - seems rather expensive for Luxor?

[Teddyboy]

Dunno about anyone else, but I reckon it seems 'rather expensive' ............. full stop!

[HEPZIBAH]

I wondered if the $ sign had been used by mistake. However, when looking at a currency conversion site 120 of what ever expected currency doesn't really make sense.
$120 = LE 2969.92
$120 = £98.46

I'm now left wondering just what their 5 course Christmas Eve Gala Dinner menu is, and what possible entertainment might also be involved with the evening.

I did once spend a Christmas Eve at the Old Winter Palace. I met a friend their for afternoon tea. As we were leaving, the youth choir from one of the local churches were preparing to entertain the guests with an evening of Christmas Carols. Even though I wasn't staying there, and my friend had to leave to get back to her family, I was invited to stay and join in the festivities. I was offered mulled wine and Father Christmas gifted me an orange. The hotel guests then went to their 'posh' dinner. I went back to my hotel and then on to the midnight service at the Catholic church, where I met the same Father Christmas again. It was a delightful evening, in fact one of my favourite Luxor memories.

[A-Four]

I suppose when you think about it, it's almost 30 years ago now that I remember seeing a poster in Thomas Cooke's window outside of the Old Winter Palace, advertising the Aida Opera that was to take place over the river at Hatshepsut's Temple. (The one that Sean Connery attended.) it was priced up at $50.

So based on that fact, $120 for such an event as this don't seem too bad to me,

[HEPZIBAH]

I've never attended any of the 'Gala' events - Christmas/New Year - at a hotel in Luxor (my afternoon tea was the normal one offered at the Old Winter Palace), so do not know what is the expected normal when it comes to menu and/or entertainment.
I don't go to such functions in the UK either, preferring to spend time with friends in more informal settings, where perhaps we will all take along some food or drink to contribute to the evening.
Chris's post has however, got me wondering what I could expect for a New Year's Eve Gala at a UK hotel. I looked up the website of a hotel that is known to me that, in my opinion, has some similarities with Luxor's Old Winter Palace. It is a similar standard and attracts an international clientele.
(I should add that, after reading the menu, I do find it a bit basic. An extra course or two thrown in does not necessarily improve the quality of the meal.)

There menu is £85 per head. Amazingly you can also stay there for £85 per night too (much cheaper than I have often been charged when booking for work purposes).

New Year’s Eve
It only happens once a year, so why not spend this fantastic evening with us. Fizz and Canapés, followed by a fantastic feast.
£85 per person
(includes 6-course dinner)

Menu

To Start

Cream of white onion & garlic soup

Intermediate

Cured trout with fennel & pickled vegetables

Main Courses

Rump of Venison, crispy pancetta, potato puree, seasonal vegetables, Wild Mushroom sauce

Roasted Cod loin, truffled potato gallet, seasonal vegetables & a langoustine velouté

Vegetable wellington & roasted pepper sauce (VG)

Desserts

Salted Chocolate Tart, Clotted cream & Cacao

Mulled wine poached pear, crème anglaise & white chocolate crumble

Cheese Course

A selection of local Cheeses including, Lyburn Old Winchester, Stoneycross, Isle of Wight Blue, served with Biscuits, Celery & Grapes.
(Add a glass of Ruby Port for £4.50 per person)

To Finish

Freshly brewed Coffee served with Petit Fours

Personally, On New Years Eve, I shall be very happy going to a friends house, possibly playing a few fun board or parlour games, and nibbling on a buffet of whatever delights our host and guests have provided.

[HEPZIBAH]

It seems that the Winter Palace has taken note of the higher currency exchange rate because the price of their 5 course Christmas Eve Gala Dinner, excluding drinks, is $120 - seems rather expensive for Luxor?

Chris, do you know what the menu is and is there any entertainment involved?

[Chris]

1. Wellcome cocktail of Mulled wine at 6.30pm (No otheer drinks) accompanied by local Choir

2. Harpist and Pianist during Dinner (No other entertainment)

3. Dinner at 7.30pm - Menu:

Mushroom Soup and chestnuts with truffle oil

Prawns in kadaif,asparagus,artichoke & avocado

Karadeh Sorbet

Turkey ballotinestuffed with ceps, foie gras sauce, kumquat & date

Christmas buche (cake?)

Sweets

[HEPZIBAH]

Thanks Chris.
An interesting, but fairly safe, menu.
Not sure I'd feel I'd had my monies worth if I was a paying guest - although one would have to be at the event to fully appreciate and decide.
I'm just extra thankful that I was able to enjoy the mulled wine and carols for free when I did. :-)

[Major Thom]

I remember going to the New Year Gala Evening, it was absolutely amazing. The price they are charging may be out the way for local people, but here in Cyprus it's common place for half that amount and normally one entertainer and not a show. It's a once a year event and really for ex pat's a night to remember. Here we are going to the local Taverna, €50 each. Don't forget ex pat's there is a good pension rise in 2023, with the triple lock being implemented. Both me and my wife get that, and one other pension I get is linked to the RPI which in January goes up 14.1%. So for me this once a year event would be worth splashing out on.

[Teddyboy]

I thought that if you weren't normally resident in Britain (which I thought you weren't?) then your state pension was frozen from the time you moved abroad. Is this not the case, then?

[Yildez]

I thought that if you weren't normally resident in Britain (which I thought you weren't?) then your state pension was frozen from the time you moved abroad. Is this not the case, then?

Depends which country you live in. I get all the normal increases but not the winter fuel allowance. I live in Turkey.

[Major Thom]

We are quite lucky really, when we moved to Cyprus we both got a 15% rise in state pensions because they become unfrozen. This year pensioners get the 10.1% pay rise due to the triple lock, so that is a rise for both myself and wife. When in Luxor we received no rises. My works Superannuated pension goes up 14.1% and will rise that percentage on my now pension of £987 per month. So a big advantage from living in Luxor. The only thing we do not get is the Winter allowance. The only thing is the cost of living is higher in Cyprus, and because we both have cars, they sap up a fair bit of cash. However, medical services are free, prescriptions are €1 per item, hospitalisation and surgery is free, and we can call in at a doctor's at any time. Local goods are cheap but anything brought in from UK is subjected to tax and VAT. For us though because our health was not great in Luxor, (We kept it hidden) the largest thing for us is that we now have decent health for our ages and that is a very big plus for Pensioners. I have been back to Luxor once to the Courts, I was there 3 days but could see that prices had risen quite a lot since we left, what they are like now I don't know, or if the exchange rate helps now, but cannot see prices falling, or quality rising. But for none pensioners I imagine Luxor is still reasonably cheap, and that is a big draw. We are both now Citizens of our Island, pay our taxes here and entitled to most benefits, something we could not do in Luxor. We also hold two passports now, so depending on where we go we can use either for entry to other Countries, the Islands passport we use for EU Countries. Anyway it's the 31st of December today so can we wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, stay peaceful, stay happy and enjoy good health

[Major Thom]

Just to answer Teddyboy, thinks have changed since BREXIT, buying property is harder, when we moved to Cyprus you just needed to prove you could live in income without needing government assistance, you also needed £4000 in a local bank. Now you need £40,000 in a local bank, if you want property you cannot buy under £180.000. Not sure about what happens to pensions for people after BREXIT.