For many households across the UK, the thought of eating anything other than a roast dinner on Christmas Day is ludicrous. Crispy potatoes, pigs in blankets and brussels sprouts are the most ubiquitous items on the nation's dining tables. Some families will swap out turkey for another cut of meat, but most Brits roast parsnips and pour jugs of gravy on the big day.
Though the same can't be said for the Holyoak family, who prefer to tuck into onion bhajis, naan bread and pilau rice on December 25 instead. Jake Holyoak, 29, from Sunderland, said they were "sick of the same old" and decided to switch it up 10 years ago. Now a whole decade later, it's become tradition to dine out at their local Indian restaurant for Christmas dinner.
Jake told the Mirror : "We go to the local pub with all the family around midday, have a few pints and walk to the curry house.
"I usually have onion bhajis or chicken chaat for starters, then vindaloo or lamb Sri Lankan curry for main.
"There's nothing better than a vindaloo at 1pm on Christmas Day!
"I get keema naan and spicy chips on the side and rice to share in the middle of the table.
"Then I have gulab jamun for dessert, it tastes like treacle sponge and custard. It's unreal."
The Shagorika restaurant in Sunderland has welcomed Jake and his family every year since 2012 for an authentic Indian on Christmas Day.
The four-course meal costs £25 and they're greeted with glasses of bubbly on arrival.
It's typically him and wife Natasha, his parents, Helen and Stephen, sister Emma and her sons, Joe and Jack.
Though this year could be the last one for Jake, as him and Natasha are expecting a baby boy together - and she's ready to start a new tradition.
"I've been warned by the wife that the baby won't be going for an Indian so it could be our last year," he said. "I do love a roast dinner but I'll be gutted."
Natasha isn't actually a fan of curry, but Jake is hoping he'll be able to change her mind next year.
"We used to have Christmas dinner at home like everyone else, then after my grandparents died, Mum and Dad wanted to do something different to help us forget about it," Jake said.
"Mum asked how we'd feel about an Indian, and we all love going out for a curry, so we booked our local restaurant.
"There were only two full tables the first time we went and now it's so busy, all other Indians in the area do the same thing."
Jake says staff always go "out of their way" to create a jolly atmosphere with decorations and music - even though they don't celebrate it themselves.
"Honestly it's amazing and totally normal for us. I'd 100 percent encourage other people to eat an Indian on Christmas Day," Jake said.
"Plus if you're having a meal out, a roast dinner defeats the object. Why not try something different?
"A lot of people I know have started doing it. Last year my mate was on the table next to us with his family."
Like many Brits, Jake is a fan of Christmas Day leftovers - and he's prone to tucking into a vindaloo in the early hours of December 26.
"I box up what I haven't ate at the Indian and have it for leftovers the next day. Sometimes we'll have a picky tea like everyone else," he added.
"On New Year's Day we have our roast dinner instead with Natasha's family, so we don't miss out completely."
They tend to book the table in August and always leave a big tip.
And not even Covid got in the way of Jake's Indian - the family ordered a takeaway last year and recreated the experience at home.
"I went to Morrisons and got loads of bottles of Kingfisher beers and we had our usual delivered," Jake said.
If this Christmas really is his last vindaloo, Jake says he will savour every single mouthful and enjoy the leftovers for breakfast for the last time on Boxing Day.
How do you feel about eating out on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments.
