Mum Sparks Controversy for Charging Family £200 Per Person for Christmas Dinner
A mum-of-four has sparked an intense debate after revealing she is charging her family £200 per person to attend her Christmas dinner. Carla Bellucci, an internet personality, appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on December 4 to discuss her decision, which has caused a stir across social media.
Carla explained that the £200 charge covers a three-course meal prepared by a professional chef, complete with champagne. While adults are required to pay, children under 16 are invited free of charge. Despite the backlash, Carla clarified that the money would not be pocketed as profit, but instead go toward covering the £1,000 cost for the chef and £600 for Dom Pérignon champagne. She added, “Nobody is forced to come; it’s entirely up to them. I want to drink nice champagne. It’s not going to be £5.99 prosecco.”
Chef Theo Michaels, who was also a guest on Good Morning Britain, disagreed with Carla’s approach, stating: “It’s the concept of charging people for Christmas dinner round your own house – it’s profiteering. The idea there’s a cost-of-living crisis… why not just ask everyone to chip in and cover the cost of ingredients?”
Carla responded by defending her decision, explaining that she and her guests would each contribute by bringing a dish, a bottle of champagne, and a gift, which she believes adds up quickly. “Most people bring something anyway, and I don’t see the harm in it,” she said, according to Liverpool Echo.
The debate quickly spread across social media, with some agreeing with Carla, while others felt that charging family members for Christmas dinner was unreasonable. On X (formerly Twitter), @Geematt, a pensioner, shared his thoughts, saying: “I do a full Christmas dinner for my family every year and would never charge them a penny. It’s not chef-cooked, but it’s always good.”
Others, however, supported Carla’s stance. @StevenJonMiller wrote: “Great idea. Will make them value their food even more. It isn’t cheap dishing up Christmas dinner these days.” Meanwhile, @LoonyLobster shared their own experience, saying: “Christmas isn’t cheap. We buy everything and split the costs per adult. We also do Secret Santa to save on gifts.”
The decision to charge for Christmas dinner remains divisive, with opinions ranging from those who prefer traditional, self-cooked meals to those who support contributing for a professionally prepared festive feast.