Liverpool’s restaurants are wildly busy at this time of year. Emma Pinch spends a day eavesdropping on busy Table 21, a popular spot in Victoria Street’s Living Room

12.30-1.15pm

Who: Kim Hughes from City Talk pops in for a meeting with the Living Room’s general manager, Craig Cunningham. It’s the end of her working day, despite the early hour.

Why: “We met to talk about the possibility of recording a show live from the restaurant for our evening programme,” says Kim. They “graze” on honey glazed sausages and potato skins with dips.

What: “Today, we mostly talked about work,” says Kim. “Would we have access to the chef?, can the music in the VIP area be isolated so it doesn’t interfere with recording equipment? – things like that.

“We only disagreed about what I was drinking. I was working and asked for a water, but Craig was keen for me to sample the mulled wine. I won. Craig is unflappable. Nothing was too much to arrange.”

Next stop: “Bed!” laughs Kim. “I’ve been up since 4am because I present the breakfast show. Night night!”. Craig is off downstairs to check on bookings and to have a meeting with the chef.

1.20pm-2.20pm

Who: Frank McKenna, chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business, and Roger Jonas, events co-ordinator of DLIB.

Why: A low-key business lunch to discuss the DLIB events plan for 2009, over fishcakes and chicken skewers, goats cheese sandwich and king prawns.

What: “It really was all work.” says Frank.

“In 2009, we want more members’ receptions, Livercool and business Oscars and new venues,” explains Roger. “We also talked about our current negotiations with Peter Mandelson’s office to attend a 2009 DLIB event.”

They spotted Kim Hughes on her way out.

“We did actually comment that we thought Kim Hughes looked fabulous as we saw her leaving,” says Frank. “Not many women can get up at silly o’clock and yet still look so glam.”

Work talk again halted when they speculated about where their waiter was from.

“We had a lovely Irish waiter called Emma, and Roger said her accent was Southern Irish, and I disagreed, I said it was Northern Irish.”

“I learned Frank has a better ear for accents than me,” smiles Roger.

Next Stop: “Back to the office in Water Street for a meeting with our new legal sponsors, DWF,” says Frank. Roger is off for a meeting with Vicky, from Livesmart, about the 08 Exec Card.

2.30pm-3.40pm

Who: Bretta Davis, managing director of Street Legal Group, and Laura Jane Hall, business development manager at Multisolutions Ltd.

Why: Over honey glazed sausages, bread, olives and potato skins and non-alcoholic cocktails the two women, who have been friends for more than 10 years, talked business, pleasure, “Oh and also some gossip – but I couldn’t say what!”, says Laura.

What: “Our office is on the sixth floor of India Buildings and the lift has been broken for three weeks,” says Laura. “Bretta came to a Multisolutions event, where she was ‘matched’ with HSBC, so I wanted to know how she had got on.” They also discussed their Christmas day out.

“Great news is that Bretta doesn’t drink, so she’s driving,” says Laura. “We don’t often disagree, but I’m always telling her to cut her teenage son more slack. He works in the business, and Bretta can sometimes be quite tough on him.”

Bretta learned something new about her friend. “We were discussing shopping at Liverpool One and I didn’t realise Laura has over 170 pairs of shoes – all boxed – at home!”

Where next: “I’m going back to the office to check the team of engineers has finished everything,” says Laura. Bretta is going back to the office in Hamilton Square to sign some cheques – “so people have money for Christmas”.

4pm-4.20pm

Who: Assistant general manager Ross Kelly goes through rotas, bookings, special menu requirements with staff, and allocates tables for the evening.

4.30pm-6.30pm

Who: Stylist Lorraine McCulloch, on the way home from a photoshoot for Reveal Magazine, pops in to catch up with PR and Daily Post columnist Carolyn Hughes. She is joined by friend Bev Doyle, from Doyle Properties, who has been in town shopping.

Why: “A general girlie catch-up,” says Bev. They had satay chicken skewers (Lorraine went for a soy dip to save on calories), and vegetarian Bev ate veggie shepherds pie, chips and an Eton Mess to finish.

What: “Lorraine and I are thinking of going together to a New Year’s Eve party in Cheshire, and we were debating whether to book a driver or stay over in a hotel. It’s the party of a well-known actress whose name she won’t reveal,” says Carolyn. “Plans for Christmas and New Year were top of the agenda,” nods Bev.

What next: “Home to catch up on the day’s events with my children and sort out work for the next photoshoot, “says Lorraine. Bev’s off home, too. “The house is always full of family, but as I’ve eaten out tonight they’ll have to cook for themselves.”

7pm-9.30pm

Who: Lauren Blake, Stephanie Evans, Carla Lawson, Kate Kennedy and Rosina Mann

Why: Girlie Christmas night out. Catching up with what was going on in each others’ lives over light nibbles “to leave more room for cocktails”. The glamorous party turn plenty of heads at the bar.

What: “They were asking me about the film I have coming out soon called The Story of . . . all very girlie and lots of laughs,” says actress Lauren.

“The only disagreement was the X Factor, I thought JLS should have and a couple of the girls wanted Alexandra to win . . . Some of the girls thought she was a bit of a diva. It was all light- hearted,” Lauren adds.

Where next: The Bar and Grill for more cocktails, then end of night dancing in the Newz Bar.

9.30-10.30pm

Who: Bryan Foy, owner of Zoo Salon, in Hackins Hey, and Sharon Huxley, of Urban Spa, at Greens, met for a Thai curry (Bryan) and fish and chips.

Why: “The last thing I feel like doing is going home and starting to cook, then cleaning the kitchen,” says Bryan.

What: Mostly business, “and we threw a bit of gossip in as well,” adds Bryan. “We only disagree on what time we leave to go home. And that is normally because Sharon is driving and can’t drink wine. But I still can!”

Where next: “Home,” says Bryan. Sharon adds: “Home. And Bryan is welcome to a lift, or he can stay and get a cab. His call.”