How do I use a special date again next year?

When a date counts as over, Use again to start next year's date with the same rules, and Repeat every year so it's offered again.

Part of What's different about Christmas Day? (Special dates). This part covers when a date is over, using a date again with last year's rules, and repeating a date every year.

When a date is over

A date counts as over once your day has ended — your day runs from 5am to 5am, so a date is still current until 5am the morning after it. Once a date is over it no longer counts anywhere: your booking terms stop mentioning its card to hold, the "special dates set their own card to hold" line on your payment settings stops counting it, and a set menu stops saying it's offered on it. Past dates stay under Past special dates for as long as your account is open, so you can look back at them or use them again.

Use a date again — reuse last year's rules

Click Use again on any date — one coming up, or one under Past special dates — to start a new date with the same rules. The step-by-step window opens on Which date? with the same day next year already picked (a bank holiday on its real date next year); change it if you need to — Mother's Day and Easter Sunday move each year, so pick their new day here.

Everything is copied: hours, online times, limits, money, pre-orders and the note. The opening-for-booking day moves forward by the same gap as the date, so it still holds the date — Copy rules from… does the same, and names each date with its year so last year's and this year's are easy to tell apart. The Review then lists what to check before you save:

• each money rule copied as it was (deposit, pay in full, card to hold, the rest of the payment) — "copied from … — check it's still right" — until you change it;
• a set menu that has been deleted, is paused, or is only on last year's dates (guests can't choose it on the new date — change its dates on the Menu page's Set menus & deals tab);
• a menu section or room that no longer exists;
• a note to guests that mentions a year.

Repeat every year

Switch on Repeat every year on a date's Which date? step to keep it for next year. Once this year's date has passed, Coming round again on the page offers it, named with next year — for example "Boxing Day 2027 — use last year's rules?". Click Add to open it in the step-by-step window with last year's rules (checked as in Use a date again) and save it, or Not this year to stop the offer. It's never added without you, and it isn't offered if you already have a date on that day. A bank holiday repeats on its real date each year (Easter Monday moves with Easter); any other date repeats on the same day and month.

Related: What's different about Christmas Day? (Special dates) · How do I add a special date? · Which rule wins on a special date, and what are day-and-time rules?