Whether you have volunteered to organise your work Christmas outing or you’ve been begrudgingly laden with the responsibility, as one of the top party venues in Worcester we have just the tips you need to make sure your work Christmas party is the talk of the office – for all the right reasons.
Start planning!
It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas – not only will this allow you secure a great venue and the date you want, but it means you can participate in the festivities without worrying about what might need to be done. Grab a notebook and start jotting down ideas.
Think themes, food, music and potential venues. It’s much easier to envisage your event once it’s all on the page – not to mention it’s a handy way to show colleagues and heads of departments what you’re thinking of doing and to get their valued feedback.
Dates and Diaries
Christmas is busy so send out a memo giving people a couple of options and go with the date that most people can attend. Get this date pencilled in as soon as possible so that transport arrangements can be set in motion.
Thursdays and Fridays are extremely popular regardless of where or how you celebrate Christmas with your colleagues, so choosing an alternative day can not only save you money, but get you a lot more from your budget.
Once you have a solid date, send out an email building up suspense (you might not even know all the details yourself yet!) but this is a great way to get people interested, generate excitement and to help them remember the date.
Guests and Transport
Make sure that the invitation makes it easy for people to confirm if they need transport or not – this will make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to booking coaches, mini buses or taxis. Once you have numbers, periodically check in with people so that any change in attendance can be accounted for.
If you want to skip transport, then selecting a venue that offers accommodation is the perfect solution – you can keep everyone together and enjoy a hungover breakfast the next morning.
Facts and Figures
If you’ve been asked to look after your work’s party, it’s highly possible that you look after budgets or are in direct contact with the member of staff who does. How much money you have available will have a massive impact on how you all celebrate – from food and drink to entertainment and the venue.
Bespoke packages are often the best value, so be sure to find out how much you have to spend and make a list in priority order of how you want to allocate funds.
Finding A Venue
Hotels in Worcester are exceedingly popular for local businesses, including those based in Bristol and Birmingham, because of their convenient location. At Bank House, we have event planners who have all the hospitality and planning experience you would expect, and then some. They can work collaboratively with you or independently to help make sure your party is a success. If your business is small and you want to have a sit-down meal, then The Mulberry Suite and seats up to 18 people banquet style for a delicious meal and civilised affair. Or for a bit more glamour, our stunning Champagne Bar can also seat up to 18 people and is also the perfect place for a cocktail and canapés party.
If you have a larger company and want sweeping views to be the backdrop of your event, then Malvern View can accommodate up to 90 guests, or The Elgar Suite boasts its own bar, kitchen and landscaped garden that is perfect for large celebrations. Whether you want an exclusive party or are looking to hire a table and share the space with other companies, if the venue is right you’ll have a great night, plus it’s perfect for socialising.
Booking Entertainment and Remembering a Photographer
Everyone remembers the entertainment at a work party – whether that’s because the DJ played all the best hits or because someone hired a drunk Santa, entertainment is really important for creating a happy and welcoming atmosphere. Why not hire a local band and photographer to capture everyone’s fun? You can then use the photographs on your company’s blogs and social media to show a light-hearted side of your business – and to show potential employees what a great place it is to work!
And Don’t forget…
Staff perform better when they feel appreciated and what better way to acknowledge their hard work than with an awards ceremony? Throw in some jovial categories and you’ll soon have everyone involved and laughing at some worse for wear speeches. Time this just before the serving of food to make sure everyone pays attention!
Your dishes might consist of Christmas dinner, a light lunch or buffet style snacks – you know your colleagues best so it’s always worth going for an option that suits your business. In-house catering is ideal for those on a budget or who want everything organised under one roof.
