When summer time arrives, it’s easy for people to get a bit stir crazy working inside of an office all day. You may find your colleagues staring out the window, day dreaming about enjoying a drink on a sunny rooftop or going on holiday to enjoy the weather. Instead of them daydreaming about it, why not plan a summer party to reward your team for getting through half the year? And if drinks on a rooftop or a retreat are a bit too expensive for your company, there are tons of budget friendly summer party ideas that are just as fun for everyone.
Throwing a summer party for your office is a great way to avoid burn out and reward your team for all of their hard work. It’s a really fun event to add to your calendar and we know that people will look forward to it each year. There are so many great ways to make sure your team knows you appreciate them and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do so. We came up with a few budget friendly summer party ideas so you don’t have to.
Minimum Spend Venue
If you do want to get your team out to a pub garden or rooftop bar, you don’t have to break the bank to do it. You’ll want to look for a minimum spend venue within your budget. Instead of having to hire out a space and then pay more for food and drinks, minimum spend allows you to rent the space and get food and drinks at the same time. So if you find a venue that has a £1000 min spend, you need to order £1000 worth of food and drinks. Check with the venue if you can preorder ahead of time so you know you hit the agreed upon price.
Picnic
Maybe a minimum spend is still too much for you. That’s okay. There are alternatives that won’t cost you too much. One way to save money is to host a picnic. You can do this in a public park so you don’t have to spend any money on a venue. Have each member of your team bring in a different dish so everyone can contribute to the day. Make sure you sort out tables or blankets ahead of time so people have plenty of space to put the food or drinks they bring with them. Have someone bring a speaker or come up with fun games to play throughout the day.
Sports day
If your team likes to get competitive, why not host a sports day? You can play rounders or participate in relay races together. It’s a fun way to get everyone involved, just make sure you’re choosing activities that your whole team can participate in. Allocated a budget to food and drinks that you grab from the shop before you head out. Sometimes the best summer parties consist of beers in the park!
BBQ
Another super fun idea for a budget friendly summer party is to host a BBQ. Do some research to find out what parks allow barbecuing. Once you’ve figured that out, you can start planning. A BBQ is a great way to get the whole team involved. See if there’s a few people who love to barbecue and can man the grill. All you need to do is order some supplies ahead of time. Don’t forget to check if you’ll need coal for the grill you’re using.
Outdoor Movie Night
A fun budget friendly summer party idea is to host an outdoor movie night. All you’ll need is a projector, a sheet to hang as the screen, and some food and drinks. Have everyone bring a blanket to sit on and you can enjoy a fun evening watching a film under the stars.
Ice Cream Social
One of our favourite budget ideas for a summer party is to host an ice cream social. This is great if you’re unable to dedicate an entire day or evening to one. Instead you can carve out a couple of hours in the afternoon at the office in a meeting room. Pick up a couple of flavours of ice cream, some toppings, and you’ll have a delicious break in the workday.
You could pair one of these budget summer parties with drinks at a rooftop bar or in a pub garden. No matter where you’re located, from London to Birmingham and everywhere in between, VenueScanner is here to help you find the best summer party venues this season.
