Christmas parties are a great way to celebrate a year of hard work, get your team together, and let off some steam before kicking-off the year ahead. However, if you’re the one who’s volunteered or been nominated to organise this year’s shindig, you may be feeling the pressure.
At Hubble, we’re all about helping companies find the perfect space to continue their growth. Our friends at Hire Space are all about helping people find the perfect space to put on an event. They’ve generously put together a handy guide to help you plan the best festive party in town.
1. Get a committee together
You know what they say: “many hands make light work” and “two heads are better than one,” so grab some colleagues and get a committee together to tackle the challenge of throwing your office Christmas party. Set some roles within the group so you can keep things on track, then brainstorm some ideas of how you’d like your event to be.
You might want to jump straight into finding a venue, but it’s important to narrow down your search before you start. There are thousands of great venues out there, so you’ll need a bit of an idea of what you’re looking for so you’re not overwhelmed by all of the options.
2. Plan ahead
It’s never too early to book! Hire Space says that the venues on their platform sometimes start receiving enquiries as early as January. With a longer lead time, you can be more specific with dates and locations; the closer you get to the festive period, the more flexible you’ll have to be. However, there is such a thing as over-planning and if you’re willing to compromise, you may be pleasantly surprised with what you can achieve.
3. Budget
Decide how much you’re willing to spend before beginning your event planning. Your budget will depend, to some extent, on the format of your event. Whether you’re going for a more formal sit-down dinner or something more casual, it’s sensible to have a figure in mind of how much you can spend per head.
4. Look for the perfect space
Oh the options! Whether you’re looking for a winter wonderland, glitz and glamour, or somewhere a bit more unusual such as a planetarium or art gallery, there is something out there for everyone.
Sharing is caring
Sharing parties is a great option for smaller companies or if you don’t have much time to plan decorations and entertainment. You can buy a table or two and join other companies for a massive festive party. There are usually food and drink packages to cater for differing budgets too.
Get Creative
If you want full control of your party, you can go for a blank-canvas space and really make it your own. Dry-hire venues also allow you to provide your own food and drink, which can help you control costs and give you greater flexibility over the look and feel of your party.
A helping hand
Venue managers have a wealth of event experience and access to superb suppliers, so you could hand over the reins to them. Go for their Christmas package or if you have a great idea of what you want to achieve but aren’t sure of how to pull it off, they’re experts at creating Christmas miracles.
The bare minimum
Minimum spend venues are also a great option for smaller budgets. With these venues, there’s usually no hire fee—they’ll just give you a figure that you need to spend on food and drink on the evening.
5. Food
It’s always sensible to feed your guests, Champers on an empty stomach are a recipe for disaster, and you want everyone to remember the night for the right reasons. So, if you’re feeling fancy, go for a 3-course dinner or you can keep it casual with bowl food or maybe even street food vans.
6. Entertainment
Magicians, dancers, robotic polar bears—the possibilities are endless. And whilst having entertainment isn’t essential, it’s great to have a talking point as your colleagues relax and unwind into the evening. Champagne also helps.
Top tip
Think about location and how your guests are likely to get home and arrange a party bus or get a discount with a local taxi firm. Remember, you need everyone to make it into work the next day…
