The Oracle: Issue #2

THE ORACLE - OCTOBER ISSUE - #02
REVOLUTIONISING
THE CHRISTMAS
WORK PARTY
“ You don’t need
to create a whole
new business or
rent an event
space – you ARE
an event space! “
Have you ever been to a Christmas
party that hasn’t quite hit the
mark? I’ve never really understood
the appeal of paying a premium,
deciding on what you want to eat
from a limited menu three months
in advance, having an (at best)
average meal, and chatting to the
3 people nearest to you before
heading home. It seems I am not
the only one.
The rise in companies offering
Christmas parties for hundreds
of people in huge marquees
with quirky costume themes,
entertainment, casinos or race
nights and more has been huge in
recent years. But you have all that
already! You don’t need to create
a whole new business or rent an
event space – you ARE an event
space!
Based in the ‘burbs of Hampshire,
our company Christmas party
options used to be incredibly
limited without heading into a city
centre, but the rise of competitive
socialising venues has even
reached us, and themed crazy golf
and party darts venues are just
down the road…and it’s about time.
People want to be entertained –
especially in the party season.
They want something different,
something experiential, something
fun, and they will spend money to
get it. With Christmas menu prices
in a standard casual dining venue
at £30+ for three courses (never
mind the drinks!), companies,
friends and family could instead be
spending that on a fun, interactive
night out with you that they will be
talking about for years.
Now, I’m not saying that you have
to rework your entire menu to have
Christmas themed Feliz Navi-dogs
and Bauble Burgers - but adding
a festive option to your existing
offerings can give you some big
wins this year.
Time Trap in Reading have just
launched their brand new race
rooms, where two teams battle
to be the first to escape – and I
personally can’t think of a better
way to pair team building with fun
(but I am a huge fan). They have
cleverly made these rooms so that
they can theme them for Halloween
and Christmas – with some minor
tweaks – whilst also making them
accessible all year round.
After an hour of hilarity, people will
want to carry on the party, so if you
don’t offer drinks or food, make
sure you collaborate with another
business locally that does – cross
referral works a treat for bringing
you both customers you might
never have found!
Whatever you are planning to make
the most of this festive season, I’m
sure it will sleigh…sorry, not sorry.
THE PUB PERSPECTIVE
Against washout summers and set course meals for Christmas
work parties, utilise your space with competitive socialising to
boost your venue’s edge, come rain or shine.
Summer 2023 in the UK was a
bit of a wash out, let’s be honest.
The late heat wave might have
been great for smug staycationers
with no kids, as they enjoyed the
September sunshine in an empty
Cornish pub’s beer garden, but for
some of our hospitality venues, it
was too little too late.
For me, that is the biggest win for
competitive socialising though…
If it’s a bit grey and rainy, where
better to go than karaoke, a bowling
alley or sports bar? As we head into
cooler weather, people start to plan
for outings that don’t rely on clear
blue skies, and never more so than
during the festive season.
Molly Davis, Head of
Communications for BII
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