The Best Christmas Party Venues For Hire

There's nothing more exciting than the thought of an upcoming office Christmas party. The jewel in the crown of the corporate event calendar, Christmas is the ideal time to reward employees for their hard work and allow everyone to let their hair down.

Whether you're opting for a laid-back festive drinks reception, searching for some unusual work Christmas party ideas, or you’re set on booking a grand winter ballroom, VenueScanner will make you proud. With over 20,000 venues listed on our site, we provide the largest selection of Xmas party venues in the UK. We just know that you'll be spoilt for choice here when it comes to Christmas party spaces. So, just enter your specifications into our venue search bar and discover the ideal Christmas party venue for your company.

VenueScanner also offers an exclusive concierge service for our business clients. If you're booking a Christmas party - or any other event for that matter - our concierge team will be able to help you source the perfect venue. We'll find you a selection of Christmas party venues that match your specifications, produce an event brief with pricing, arrange viewings and confirm the venue.

Best office Christmas party venues

The best office Christmas party venues bring your team together. They give everyone an opportunity to step outside of their everyday responsibilities and into a fun environment that they can experience with their colleagues. So whether you’re looking for a bar or restaurant to host your 2023 Christmas party or you’re looking for something a bit cooler or more unique, VenueScanner can help you find the perfect Xmas party venue.

Unique Christmas party venues

If you’re hoping to find some unique Christmas party venues, you’ll be happy to know you landed on the right page. VenueScanner has so many incredible venues listed, no matter what city you’re in. From London to Liverpool to Edinburgh and everywhere in between, we’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for unique Christmas venues in London you should check out Shoreditch or Soho. In Shoreditch you’ll find The Brewery, a massive space that is transformed each festive season. In Soho, you’ll find venues like The Little Scarlet Door, which will make you feel like you’re celebrating in your mates loft. Head to Liverpool where you can celebrate at super fun Tiki Hideaway Bar. Or find yourself in Edinburgh where you can deck the halls at Carlowrie Castle and feel as if you’re in a fairytale. You’ll find there’s no shortage of Xmas party venues to choose from.

Cheap Christmas venues

Hosting a Christmas party on a budget is definitely a possibility - if you’re in London, Birmingham, Manchester, or across the country. All you need to do is look for venues that offer minimum spends. This basically means that you’re getting the venue for free and then your minimum spend will go towards food and drink. Head to Islington where smaller teams can dine in style at St Pancras Brasserie & Champagne Bar. In Birmingham you can exclusively hire out nightclub Chinawhite for a £2000 minimum spend. Or in Manchester you can head to cosy cocktail bar, The Fitzgerald, for an evening of drinks with the team.

How to plan the best Office Christmas party

If you’re wondering how to plan the best office Christmas party, you’ve come to the right place. Not only does VenueScanner have some of the best Christmas party venues listed on the site, we also know a thing or two about planning an epic event. And when it comes to planning your office Christmas party, you want to make sure it’s a night that your team will remember for years to come. There are a number of things you can do to make sure that happens. It of course starts with finding the right Christmas venue. There are so many kinds you can pick from whether it’s a bar or restaurant, activity bar or nightclub.

Once you’ve chosen the best Christmas party venue for your team, it’s time to start planning. Check to see if the Christmas venue you’ve chosen offers anything fun like cocktail making classes or fun games to play. If you’ve booked an activity bar you’ll have something fun to do built into the night whether it’s crazy golf, darts or shuffleboard.

Will you be offering an open bar or giving your team drink tickets? Make sure everyone knows ahead of time so they can prepare for the big night. It’s a great idea to send out an itinerary ahead of time so people understand the flow of the evening before they get there. If you know there’s going to be a sit down meal, let them know. If everyone on the team is only going to have two drink tickets to use at the bar because you have a smaller budget, let them know. It’s okay to have a few surprises, but keep them to a minimum if you can.

It’s important to remember that people wait all year for their office Christmas party. They want to have the best time ever so if you can, why not get a photobooth with fun props set up so people can remember the evening? If you have a smaller budget you can grab a few disposable cameras or rolls of polaroid film and have the team capture the evening themselves. It’s a fun way to get everyone involved and you’ll end up with some fun photos to hang in the office.

Another thing you want to think about when planning your office Christmas party is the location of your Christmas venue. If it’s going to take some time to travel to, it might be a good idea to see if they have any partnerships with nearby hotels or offer their own accommodation. Sorting accommodation for anyone who lives far-away will allow them to enjoy their night that much more! If that’s not possible, make sure public transport is available. You’ll want to check on timings for any trains or buses so no one misses the last one home.

Remember though, the most important thing you need to do is find the gem among all of the Christmas party venues in your area. Every company will have different ideas of what they want, so it’s best to figure out your non-negotiables and budget early so you can book early and avoid missing out on all of the best venues. Put together a list of everything you know you want and see if you can find a Christmas venue that covers all of them. Set up a couple of site visits so you can really see the venue before you decide on it.

Best types of venues for office christmas parties

People don’t realise how many types of Xmas party venues there are out there in the world. It’s no longer your standard bar or restaurant (although they can be great choices too). Nowadays you can find Christmas venues ranging from hotels to nightclubs to activity bars and pretty much anything in between. Let’s run through a few of them now.

Bars

One of the most popular Christmas venues is the bar. You can either go traditional and host your office Christmas party at a pub or find a sleek cocktail bar that offers cocktail making classes, bespoke drinks, and more. Bars are great if you have a smaller budget as a lot of them offer minimum spends to use towards drinks.

Restaurants

Another common choice for the 2023 office Christmas party is to host it at a restaurant. People love private dining options because it allows your team to sit down, chat, and share a meal together. You can find private dining Christmas venues that can accommodate lunch or dinner. A lot of the Xmas party venues will offer food and drinks packages that you can pre-order. Many restaurants will have traditional Christmas roasts during this time of year, but make sure you check with the venue as not all of them do this. (But hey, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a tasty Italian or Middle Eastern feast during the festive season).

Hotels

If you’re looking for Christmas party venues that also offer accommodations, a hotel is your best option. Across the UK you can find cool boutique hotels located in city centres or elegant manor houses in the English countryside. There are larger chains of hotels or independent ones you can choose from. With a lot of companies offering hybrid working, hosting your office Christmas party at a hotel is a great way to ensure that everyone can come - no matter where they’re usually based. Just make sure to enquire with the hotel ahead of time to see if there’s enough space available for your team – or let our concierge team do it for you!

Clubs

Companies with younger teams like a startup may like the idea of dancing the night away this Christmas. If that’s the case, it’s great to find a venue with licensing that allows them to stay open late. There are so many really fun nightclubs that are perfect for the night owls on your team. If you’re not sure if your company wants to party until the sun comes up, why not send out a survey early on in the year to see what everyone’s preferences are? If the majority of your group wants their Christmas party to be at a club, you can find one that ticks all your boxes.

Activity Bars

Another great choice when it comes to office Christmas party venues are activity bars. Over the last several years you can see these types of bars popping up pretty much everywhere. You can find ones where you can try your hand at cricket, axe throwing, darts, shuffleboard, and crazy golf. There are bars that are perfect for gamers where you can play on old consoles or take part in esports. You can find massive arcades or you can go bowling, virtual clay shooting or even sing karaoke. Spark some teamwork in an Escape room or join in an immersive experience. Hop into a go-kart or see if you can win big at fair games. Odds are, if there’s an activity your team wants to participate in, there’s a bar they can do it at. Activity bars make excellent options for Christmas party venues because they combine teamwork, fun, delicious drinks, and tasty food, all in one place.

Where to plan a Christmas party

When it comes down to looking for a Christmas venue you want to make sure it’s near your office. Alternatively, if you work for a company that has offices in multiple cities, you can choose the one that would work best for the majority of the employees so people don’t have to travel too far. Thankfully, you’ll find a great selection of Xmas party venues across the UK.

London

London is definitely going to have the most choice when it comes to Christmas party venues. It’s a massive city with lots of really cool areas like Shoreditch, Soho, and Islington. You’ll find that the demand for Xmas party venues is high here and you’ll want to book early if you’re looking to host your party in London. While there are definitely a lot of venues available for hire, there are also a lot of people enquiring, so the best venues will fill up quickly.

However, one of the greatest things about booking your office Christmas party in London is that there are a variety of venues no matter what your budget is. You can find high-end venues as well as low-cost ones that offer minimum spends. If you don’t know how to get started, our concierge team can help you.

Manchester

Manchester is a really cool city with lots of interesting areas throughout the city. It’s one of those places that has an area for every vibe. So whether your company is more corporate or a cool startup, you’ll be able to find a venue and area of the city that suits you. From the Northern Quarter to Picadilly to the City Centre to Ancoats, a Manchester office Christmas party could be for you.

Birmingham

Birmingham is another great city to host your Christmas party. You’ll find Xmas party venues in the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth, Edgbaston, and the rest of the city. Plus, getting around the city is easy due to the great network of public transport. They have buses, trains, and trams that can get you to your epic Christmas venue.

Edinburgh

If you’re looking for a great Christmas party venue in Edinburgh, you’ll find some really cool ones. From castles to restaurants serving up some delicious food to bars playing live music all night, you’ll find something along the Royal Mile, Haymarket, Leith, or even just outside of the city centre.

FAQ

What are the most important things to consider when planning an office Christmas party?

The most important things to consider when you’re planning your office Christmas party is budget, location, and date. Once you have your budget in mind, it’s easier to figure out a location and date. You’ll also want to consider your guest list and how many people you intend to invite. Will you be allowing your team to bring plus ones? This will all factor into the budget as well as the rest of your plans.

How early do I need to book my Christmas party venue?

Some people book their Christmas parties as early as January! Most people however start to make decisions by the end of August through the end of September. This ensures that you have the best options for finding a venue that works for you. We’ve also found that there are always a couple of key dates that everyone seems to be after during the Christmas season. Book early to avoid missing out!

When should I let my team know about our office Christmas party?

We say the sooner the better! As soon as you’ve picked a date, send out a save-the-date to everyone so they know to keep it open for your Christmas festivities. Once you’ve finalised everything, send out an invite, whether it’s an email or something you’ve designed that has all of the key details like date, time, location, and a basic itinerary of the evening.

What should I ask the Christmas venue I’m interested in when sending an enquiry?

When you first make an enquiry, it’s important to ask a few questions to avoid any back-and-forth. Ask about capacities, drinks and food packages, if the date and time you’d like to have your party is available, and if not, if the venue can offer any additional times. You should see if you can schedule a site visit and ask if the venue will be reserved at all if you plan on scheduling one. The Christmas period is very busy, so it’s important to get things done as quickly as possible! One other thing that you should ask about is the cancellation policy. This will usually be in your contract, but it’s good to be aware of it in case something comes up!

Can I throw an office Christmas party on a budget?

It’s definitely possible to plan an office Christmas party on a budget. Find a minimum spend venue and then find out if you’re able to bring in your own decorations and order your own food. You can always get some pizzas into the venue, deck the halls so it looks super festive, and plan your own entertainment. Get your team to dress up in their ugliest Christmas sweater and have them partake in a Secret Santa gift exchange. Put someone on music duty and have them create a great playlist to plug in at the venue. Have someone else take photos to commemorate the night! You don’t have to spend a fortune to have some fun.

How do I get everyone from the company to attend our office Christmas party?

Unfortunately it can be hard to ensure that everyone on your team comes to the office Christmas party, especially if you have a really large team. However, there are a few things you can do to get as many people as possible there. Look at your holiday calendar and see if there are a couple of dates where no one has requested any holiday. If you do this early enough, and send out a quick survey to the team to see which date works best for them, you’ll find that most people will block out that date ahead of time. Once you know that all of your Christmas party plans are set, send out an official invite! As long as you do these things early on, you’ll probably end up getting the majority of your team to your party for an end of year celebration.

Why should I use VenueScanner

Discover and book your Christmas party at one of our fabulous bars, restaurants, hotels or event spaces. We feature incredible Xmas party venues all across the UK, so get in touch and we can help you find and book the perfect space for you. Explore this selection of wonderfully wintery Christmas party venues, handpicked by VenueScanner and designed to impress your guests.

Our bespoke event planning service helps you source the perfect venue without the extortionate agency fees

Our VenueScanner events team has the best venue knowledge around. They'll work to source you the best spaces, negotiate the best rates, book in your viewings and help with your planning. This is a complimentary service for business clients.

You’ll save time and money while we find the best options for your 2023 office Christmas party. The VenueScanner concierge team will negotiate the best rates with the venue once you’ve made your choice and we’ll keep you updated throughout the entire process. We can even recommend event suppliers to make your Christmas party incredible.

Whether you’re only looking for a small space, are searching for something a bit interesting, would like a private dining area or you’re only here for drinks and dancing, you’ll find your ideal office Christmas party venue here on VenueScanner. Send us a message at [email protected] if you need any help at all.