Work Christmas Party - best and worst

[ohbutyoulovescarves]

I've just booked a venue for my office of 100 people and want to come up with some ideas to make it extra special. Ive got a good budget so people won't be paying anything towards it, obviously there will be plenty of food and drink but what would you hate to see in terms of entertainment? What things have really worked at Christmas parties you've been to before?

I loathe 'murder mysteries'. Went to one, and it was abysmal.
Im boring, I'd be happy witj food and drink.

Agreed. Went to a murder mystery one a few years back, really cringey!

Food, drinks, somewhere to dance (later on) and somewhere to sit.

My firm once hired out a pizza express. Pizza and wine all evening. Everyone was wasted. One girl cake down the stairs from the loo naked from the waist down. Another slept face down in a puddle under her coat all night. I went home with a colleague for the night. Total carnage. But back to my original point: the simple party and venue was a winner.

What about a crazy golf company to set something up?

Somewhere to dance and somewhere to sit is sorted. I've got more food staggered throughout the evening to (hopefully) soak up some of the booze

Ah we just did crazy golf for our summer party. That went down a treat though!

I don't have a best but definitely the worst was a casino night at a football stadium.

Shared with other businesses we were given a dreadful meal, with dreadful table wine, an overpriced bar, silly fake casino chips to try and use at mock gambling tables that were crowded 3 people deep and an awful awful father and daughter singing duo singing romantic songs to each other.

Actually the medieval banquet one was a bit of a laugh 😄

What sort of budget are we talking?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz approx £300 a head so plenty!

Wow, what a budget!!

I'd love a murder mystery but would be making excuses to avoid crazy golf

Hire a stand up comedian. Kevin Bridges or Josh Widdicome would be within that budget.

Contemplating a comedian or a singer? There's a DJ later on in the evening.

Ha @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz great minds! I should definitely look into that!

Always bacon sarnies at the end of the night!

Some of them are well pricey! 50k for Jason Manford. Mental.

Comedian (preferably female) would be brilliant!
I know for a fact I'm not coming so don't know why I'm stating my preferences :o

Yikes! Wish we could afford Micky Flanagan, he's my fave!

Bacon sandwiches is a bloody brilliant idea!

Was watching with interest as my boss had tasked me with sorting the Christmas do this year but crikey I've got £20 a head allowance to try and find something 300 pounds a head would make it much easier

One of those photo booths where people can dress up in hats etc and take photos with their friends - works a treat

Lots of seating - different areas so that those wanting a more quiet area can find it

Cloak room

Comedian

Projected onto large wall/screen ... Slide show of photos of work related stuff (people / events / achievements) interspersed with numerical achievements for the year (x amount of sales achieved / x is revenue / x in cases one - whatever is relevant to you company) and also quotes from people thanking other people .... eg "" "thanks to Kenny on reception for always greeting everyone with a smile" from CeO bob"" Or "" "thanks to the AP team for cutting payment time to 3 days down from 7" from CFO Cynthia"" or "Ben from IT thanks everyone who finished the phishing training - we had 100% completion in less than 24 hours" ... you get the idea - gives everyone something to look at if they run out of talking about sex politics or religion

Yy to a female comedian. I like Sara Pascoe.

Are your office into Instagram and selfies and all that shit ?

If so lots of things they can pose for snaps on/in/with for the Gram.

A massive flower wall, a swing in the garden, fairy lights, etc.

I've decided what I want to do for my 40th layer this year. I want to go and see a comedian, preferably a scathing feminist one. With wine.

Got a selfie mirror photo printing thingy already. Will buy some more props for sure.

Photo slide show is an excellent idea.

Currently trying to convince the senior partners to sing the twelve days of Christmas with altered lyrics to our industry!

Wanted to get some favours for the table but alas I cannot get 100 of these from anywhere. Can barely find 4!