CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Graham HillHead of Square Meal Venues & Events

Budget validationDon’t skimp, it’s a false economy

• Internal marketing• Networking & team building• Staff retention = lower recruitment costs• Good morale = higher productivity• £150 gift voucher or brilliant party?• Tax deductible• Pre-party conference or team building

Key Criteria• Company/ Department/ Desk

• Dinner/ Buffet/ Drinks & Canapes/ Other?

• Lunchtime/ Evening/ Both/ Overnight?

• Spouses too?

• Package or bespoke?

• Exclusive or shared?

Timing

• Shop early for best dates and venues

• Be flexible and shop late for bargains

• How about January?

Attendance & Conversion

• 12% average no show

• Make the invitation attractive

• Give people plenty of notice

• Clear dress code – if themed, keep it easy

• Don’t assume acceptance = attendance

• Appoint departmental reps

• Get feedback

Avoiding Pitfalls• Confirm all costs in writing

• Confirm all timings

• Write and share the itinerary

• Insist on a tasting

• Don’t run out of booze

• Avoid cloakroom horrors

• Get people home safely

• Don’t do it for the directors

Social Media

• Promotion

• Feedback

• Pictures

• Potential pitfall…?!

Shared Christmas Parties

• Awesome Events – various venues• Ex Events – G35• ITA* – various venues • Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel – D31• The HAC – G37• Chelsea FC – G30• ZSL London Zoo • 8 Northumberland Avenue • Vinopolis

Awesome Events

• Bloomsbury Big Top – Cirque Extraordinaire• Bankside Ballroom – Vegas• Victoria House – Christmas at the Lodge• Royal Horticultural Society – Midnight in Manhattan• The Fountain Room – Diamonds are Forever• Old Truman Brewery – Through the wardrobe• Old Truman Brewery – Disco through the Decades

EX EventsG35

Dickensian ChristmasWhitehall Place Après-ski East & West

Blackall Studios & Trafalgar Square

Great GatsbyBloomsbury Ballroom

ITA*

Classic Christmas themed party planning for 17 London venues

Ministry of Sound - E23

Heated outdoor courtyard (1600 stand-up)

The Deck - D27

Transforms into

Max capacity: 150 stand-up

Tower Bridge - G38

Christmas over the Thames (120 sit-down, 250 stand-up)

The Brewery - G31

‘The Apostles of Anonymity’ Masquerade (660 for dinner)

Warner Bros. Studio Tours London:The Making of Harry Potter

G29

Shared parties in the Great Hall (180 stand-up, 300 sit-down)

QEII Centre

Prices start at £43pp for standing parties & £63pp for seated affairs.

Max capacity = 930!

Coca Cola London Eye – D34

Ice rink and corporate packages

The Shard – G20

Host your party at London’s highest event space

HQS Wellington – G32

Traditional venue that’s a moored Thames boat

BMA House – E21

Narnia theme from £55pp for stand-up (max 320)

IET London: Savoy Place – D21

Big new re-opening… Riverside Room = 330 for dinner

East Wintergarden – H5

Canary Wharf option including shared parties

London Irish Centre - E10

Christmas Dublin Nights :Including live Irish folk and Ceildh bands

Also consider Dublin Christmas parties by Great Days = Disneyland Paris stand B39

• THE GALLERY = This floor…

• The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen & Anise – A4

• Circus – A22

• Playboy Club – E41

• Beat – E43

• Mason House – F41

• Searcys | The Gkerkin – H15

Restaurants & Bars

London Hotels• ME London (STK & Radio) – A1• Mandarin Oriental – C23• Jumeirah Carlton Tower – D31• The May Fair (Cinema) – D32• St. Ermin's Hotel – E32• The Stafford – F32• The Belgraves – F34• Hilton Tower Bridge (Tworuba) & The Waldorf – F38• Hotel Café Royal – G2• Marriott Hotels – G10• Ace Hotel, Shoreditch – G11

For hotels outside London, go to theB, C and J aisles…

Mandarin Oriental

Rugby: • Twickenham Experience – C27• Allianz Park – D43• Leicester Tigers – B33

Racecourses:• Lingfield Park – C39• Royal Windsor Racecourse – J3• Ascot – J11• Newbury Racecourse – J23

Sporting VenuesFootball:• St Georges Park – B40• Chelsea Football Club – G20• Liverpool FC – J17

Cricket:• Emirates Old Trafford – J1

Pool & Ten-Pin Bowling:• Namco – E1

Château Rhianfa

• Amazing Venues: Ackergill Tower, Kinnettles Castle, Carberry Tower, Château Rhianfa – C24

• Hever castle – B10

• Leeds Castle – J13

• Peckforton Castle – J15

• Walton Castle – B34

Castles

Read our Christmas Parties magazine!

If you’re stuck or need advice, call Square Meal Concierge