Organising a Christmas party for your office can be a stressful task and one which invariable falls on your shoulders because “you’re the organised one” (which also means you’re usually the most over-tasked person in the office). The fear of disappointing your colleagues and the sheer number of choices on offer at this time of year, coupled with the looming deadline and panic to get everything booked at the busiest time of year can be overwhelming. But if you know what to look for before searching aimlessly through Google and the Yellow Pages it can actually be surprisingly simple.

So stop, breathe and follow our simple guide to organising the perfect Christmas. With only three major aspects to think about, you’ll appear to effortlessly arrange the ideal venue, food and drink and entertainment and actually be able to relax and enjoy your office party this year.

The perfect office Christmas party venue

There are only two things a venue needs to be perfect – size and location. Whether you’re planning a sit down meal or a stand-up buffet, look for a venue which is big enough to hold your party, but not so big that they disappear in it. You want to make it as easy as possible for everybody to get to the party and find their way home at the end of the night. Near the office might seem like the most logical location but check around the staff as this may not always be the most convenient place for people trying to get home. Bear in mind that a lot of people might drive to and from work – something they won’t be able to do if they’ve been drinking all evening. So think central location near to public transport. If you want to hold it somewhere more exotic, be prepared to put on transport to and from the event. A fancy venue is nice but not essential to having a good time, it needn’t even have a bar or dining facilities as these can be provided by mobile bar hire companies.

Planning Food and Drink

Always plan to put on some form of refreshments for a Christmas party. Even if you are organising a more activity orientated party such as bowling or go karting you should still feed and water everybody. Always survey your colleagues for specific dietary requirements well in advance and ensure there are non-alcoholic beverages and hot drinks as alternatives. Depending on how formal you are planning the party will be you might prefer to have a buffet over a sit down meal. Consider what the venue space (and your budget) can cater for and whether you will need to hire in outside caterers. Food, catering and bar equipment can all be hired by mobile caterers.

Entertainment

Theming your party isn’t essential, but it can be a great icebreaker. If you want to try something more memorable then you could consider setting the party to a specific theme such as a historical time period or fancy dress concept. However, bear in mind that not everybody may be keen on having to dress up so consider choosing a themed party  that isn’t too ridiculous. At minimum, ensure everybody knows what sort of party it’s going to be – formal, casual, outdoors etc. If you do have a theme, it can help inform the other entertainment at the party, for example the type of band or DJ if it’s a 70s night. Remember that the catering can help contribute to the entertainment on the night, great food is always memorable and a cocktail bar can be a special – and spectacular – alternative to live entertainment. Guest could even have a go themselves.
If you need help from professional services, why not get in touch with the Bar4Hire Team, we’ll be able to help you take some of workload off your shoulders. Contact us today for a quote.

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