Christmas parties will be cancelled and venues will be recruiting less people, a hospitality recruiter has claimed.

Paula Rogers, managing director at Admiral, told Recruiter that she expected a leaner Christmas this year as firms struggle with the economic downturn.

Rogers said: “There will be very little talent pipeline. People will wait to the last minute. Normally, we have staff booked two to three months in advance, whether it is long-term chefs or long-term hospitality staff and even management into contracts where they are very busy. I think this year we will see a shift. Christmas will be smaller and the parties will not be as extravagant. Parties will be cancelled. Spend will be less, entertainment budgets will be slashed.”