London Christmas Party Planning

LONDON CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANNING

As experts in London Christmas parties, here we run through everything you need to consider when starting your London Christmas party planning, from venues to seating styles, catering to drinks packages, entertainment to enhancements.

LOCATION

The location of your Christmas party is the first and most important part of your event planning. The location of the venue needs to be right because whether guests are coming straight from the office after a quick change, or travelling in from home, the location is a key factor to enable ease and convenience. A central location, with easy transport links, is quite often a top priority for clients. Think about a venue that is too ‘far out’ and guests may be put off. If guests are travelling for the party, consider their route home at the end of the night. It can be very sobering when you have to catch a cab and then five trains to reach your final destination!

VENUE

If you are planning a Christmas party in London, you really are spoilt for choice. With so many different and exciting venue options to choose from, deciding on the perfect venue can sometimes be quite daunting! With our many years of experience and expertise in delivering London Christmas parties, we can suggest venues and make recommendations that you may not have thought about before. Choosing the right venue is a bit like choosing a new house. It has to look right, it has to feel right, and it has to work for you. Think firstly about your guest numbers, the vibe you want to create, and the guest experience on the night. Do you want a central dance floor or do you want the dancing to be in a separate area to the main party? Do you like high ceilings and tall columns to create grandeur, or do you prefer an intimate feel with low ceilings and cosy nooks? are you going to have a stage for performances or do you prefer a more low key feel? there is certainly a lot to consider, but we are full of bright and innovative ideas and we can help you every step of the way with your Christmas party planning.

Here are details on a couple of different styles of venue options for your London Christmas party;

SCIENCE MUSEUM

The unique and inspiring Science Museum has a long tradition of hosting some fabulous events and parties. There certainly is something magical about transforming a museum space into the ultimate party venue! Located in the cultural heart of South Kensington, the diverse range of spaces can accommodate 10-1500 guests. This venue is one of our absolute favourite places to create a show-stopping event that will take your guests great away…

Click here to see an example of an event we produced at The Science Museum.

26 LEAKE STREET

Hidden underneath Waterloo station, lies the most incredible and versatile event space. 26 Leake Street has an urban yet contemporary feel and works really well for up to 800 guests for a standing reception. The venue opened its doors in 2018, and after producing some really lovely receptions in there, we have decided to launch our very own Christmas parties in the venue. FESTIVE COLLECTIVE is coming to the London Christmas party circuit, and is brand new for 2021! Our parties at this central London venue are all about bringing people together, to socialise and reconnect after what has been a difficult 18 months for many!

Click here to learn more about the space.

SEATING STYLES

Your chosen seating style is really important. Would you like teams who know each other to be seated together on round tables in a traditional format, or would you like guests to sit at long tables with friends, colleagues and perhaps people they don’t know, to encourage mixing together and socialising?

Or perhaps you would like a standing reception with occasional lounge furniture and cocktail tables, to encourage guests to mingle and move around the venue. This will depend on a few different things. What entertainment are you providing? how many rooms are being used for your event? where are the dancefloor and bar? where will people ‘want’ to be?

As experts in London Christmas parties, we can help. We will discuss your event objectives and look at different options with you so that you can choose the best layout for your party.

FOOD AND DRINK

Now, this is where the fun really starts, and everyone’s favourite part of planning a Christmas party. Catering for Christmas parties has moved on massively in the last few years. The food and drink you choose, and the way you serve it can completely change the look and feel of a party.

Seated Dinners

If you want your guests to take their time over eating and be seated during dinner, then a traditional seated dinner is still an incredibly popular choice. This works especially well if you have a schedule of timings for the evening or entertainment during dinner, perhaps on a stage and you want everyone to watch.

Canapes and Bowl Food

If you want to create a more informal dining option, then you could opt for canapés and bowl food. This is a really sociable way to ensure your guests are well fed, whilst providing them with lots of choice. Guests can eat bowl food standing and chatting to friends, or they can sit down, so it is very versatile and popular.

Street Food

Street food is increasingly popular and absolutely perfect for parties. London’s finest street food traders are specialists when it comes to flavour and a striking visual element for food, and it’s also totally delicious. Such a talking point with guests as they choose between an array of different traders, each serving their signature dishes. The great thing about street food traders is they can be open from the start of your event. This allows guests to eat what they want when they want. From mouth-watering burgers to pomegranate sprinkled halloumi fries, street food appeals to everyone who loves good food.

ENTERTAINMENT

Guests loved to be entertained! whether you opt for a great party DJ, or an incredible party band, music brings everyone together so this is a really important part of any Christmas party. Making sure the music appeals to your audience is also key. There are some incredibly talented party bands in London who have literally brought the house down at our parties.

There are lots of fun additions for entertainment. 3d video tunnels are fab for guests to dance around in and have photos taken, giant snow globes to bring out your inner child, temporary tattoo artists, live acts, arcade games, snow falling on the dance floor… there are so many options to fit in with the style of venue or your theme.

If you need any more help with your Christmas party planning, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch! We create bespoke parties for clients and we also offer a free venue finding service and would delighted to help.