Every December, London fills up with shared Christmas parties: a ticket, a table and a DJ playing to six companies at once. If you would rather give your team a night that is entirely theirs, here are twelve Christmas party ideas we have run for companies in London, the home counties and across the UK, with notes on the venues that suit them and when to start.
1. A Winter Wonderland
Guests arrive through a wardrobe and step out into a snow-filled ballroom: white trees, a frozen forest, a lamp post in the drifts and a live singer under the snow. It is the Christmas theme we are asked for most, and it works in any grand room with high ceilings. See our Narnia themed corporate event.
2. Your own office, transformed
Clear the open-plan floor, bring in lighting, a bar, a stage and entertainers, and the office becomes somewhere your team has never seen before. No venue cost, and nobody has to leave early for a train. Our Christmas party planner team does this every year.
3. The Greatest Show
A circus big top built inside a venue or a marquee: ringmaster hosts, aerialists, stilt walkers and a candy-striped bar. It suits a company that wants energy and spectacle rather than a formal dinner. See our Greatest Show themed event and our acts and entertainment.
4. Take over a London landmark
A banqueting hall under a painted ceiling, a converted railway shed, a Victorian ballroom or a hop exchange: London has rooms that make the venue the theme. We know these venues well, from their access routes to their house rules. Our venue finder team will shortlist them for you.
5. A Gatsby Christmas
Art Deco mirrored bar, flapper hostesses, a jazz band and laser-engraved invitations. The 1920s theme flatters a historic London venue and dresses guests up without a fancy-dress brief. More on our special celebrations page.
6. A nightclub marquee in your own car park or grounds
If the office has outdoor space, a lined marquee becomes a nightclub for one night: LED dance floor, bar, lighting rig and a DJ, with no venue hire and no taxis home from the other side of town. We have built them on slopes, in gardens and in yards. See the nightclub marquee on a slope and our corporate marquees.
7. An Oktoberfest in December
Long tables, steins, pretzels, an oompah band and a bratwurst menu. It is one of the easiest themes to get a whole company involved in, and it suits a big marquee or a warehouse space. See our Oktoberfest themed marquee.
8. Private dining with a celebrity chef
For a smaller team or a leadership dinner: a private room, a menu designed with a well-known chef and the chefs and catering teams we work with, and wines matched to each course. See celebrity chef hire and our private banquet menu design case study.
9. A winter festival
A private festival site for a day and an evening: food stalls, a covered stage, fire pits, fairground rides and a headline band. Best for larger companies with a site to use or a field to hire. See our private festival and festival organiser pages.
10. Awards night with a Christmas twist
Combine the annual awards with the Christmas party: a gala dinner, a short, well-produced ceremony with screen content and a host, then the party. It saves a date in the diary and gives the night a purpose. See our award ceremony organisers page.
11. Christmas on the river
A boathouse, a pier-side venue or a boat on the Thames, with the lights of the city as the backdrop. Numbers are limited, so it suits teams of up to about 150. See our party venues page.
12. A charity Christmas dinner
Turn the party into a fundraiser: a dinner, a silent auction and a celebrity auctioneer, with guests’ generosity going to the company’s chosen charity. See our charity event planners page and the charity dinner at Claridge’s.
Which venues suit a company Christmas party?
The right venue depends on numbers and the style of party. In London we work with:
- Hotels and their ballrooms.
- Bars and nightclubs for a stand-up party.
- Theatres, art galleries and museums for a venue that is the theme.
- Grand houses and livery halls for a seated dinner.
- Marquees, in your grounds or on a hired site, when you want a blank canvas.
When should you book?
As early as you can. The best December dates and the best venues are booked many months ahead, and so are the most popular bands and acts, so we recommend starting in the spring or early summer. By September the choice is much smaller.
What does a private Christmas party cost?
Often less than you think. We design each party from scratch and price exactly what you want on an itemised quote, with a 12.5% management fee and no hidden extras, so you only pay for your own party. A private party for your company can cost no more than buying tables at a shared event. See our fees.
How we plan it
One dedicated event manager looks after everything: the venue, the theme and decor, the menus curated with the chefs and catering teams we work with, the entertainment, the invitations and the running of the night. You can hand over the whole party or just the parts you need. Get your proposal from our Christmas party planners.
