Fearless Adventures & Basecamp Founder | Investor | Keynote Speaker | Author of “I’m Never Drinking Again
10 ideas for company Christmas parties that don’t have to centre around alcohol: 1. A nice meal at a restaurant 2. A game of mini-golf 3. A trip to the coast or the countryside 4. A game of bowling 5. A pizza party in the office 6. A cooking experience 7. An escape room 8. A trip to the cinema or theatre 9. A quiz night 10. A creative workshop Drinks, trips to the pub and boozy Christmas parties have become the norm, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Not everyone wants to spend their free time drinking - and we could be more understanding of that. It will be more than worth the effort of trying something different as a team. Any more recommedations?
Matt Comber
1mo
We've done a hike/walk since we started the business, with lunch somewhere near where the walk starts. Walk usually starts about 11am, couple of hours, back for Christmas lunch, everyone home to their family before 5. Gives everyone time to talk, walk, get some fresh air, eat some good food and be home at a nice time. Nothing worse than running a business around Christmas when there's gossip and anxiety from what happened at the party when everyone has drank too much, no winners in that scenario.
Chris Rushbrooke
1mo
This year we're doing an escape room, then to a board game cafe for a few hours and food, and it'll all be in working hours. Alcohol available to those who want it - having the option is the key
Sally Bendtson
1mo
We’re going for dinner and a spa evening Rudding Park 🧘🎄
Jonathan Hardie
1mo
Climb a Lake District fell. I have never come down from a mountain feeling mentally worse than before I climbed up (even in bad weather!). You can still go to the pub afterwards (!) and brag about your awesome mountaineering skills! Great team building opportunity as you can help those that may be nervous of heights. All grades of hiking can be catered for depending on the experience of those taking part.
Aidan Kelly
3w
Besides the cinema (which hardly counts as a party), all of those events will include alcohol
Simon Curtis
1mo
Something thats an "experience" - that creates memories (rather than loss of them). One of the best Jollies I ever organised was a live scare experience in a old shopping centre where you chased Zombies around with pump action shotguns that shot bean bags - it was ridiculous and loads of fun.
I would also add maybe offering something in the daytime too. I was the sole carer for my nanna for years and all 'work dos' were in the evening and I could never attend. By the time I had been and done her dinner and washed up I only had 3½ / 4 hours before I needed to go back again to help her get ready for bed and in bed. My biggest gap was lunch to dinner so it would have perfect if there was a daytime 'thing'
John Knott
1mo
A big Freshwalks hike in the open air - you could even end in the pub should you choose to do so! Combine exercise, fresh air, team building, look ahead and see how far you've come.
Adrian Gray
1mo
A trip to the coast or countryside in December could be a bit of a lottery. You don't want to lose anyone to hypothermia, or being sucked into a quagmire! Summer, definitely, been on a few long walks in the Chilterns with workplaces and if a few people drive, (a) if you do stop at a pub it's no more than one apiece anyway and (b) there are finally some really decent alcohol-free options in pubs now - Adnam's Ghost Ship 0.5% and Guinness Zero in particular.
1. A nice meal at a restaurant-Alcohol 2. A game of mini-golf-Alcohol at the club house 3. A trip to the coast or the countryside - country pub- alcohol 4. A game of bowling-alcohol bar 5. A pizza party in the office-bring your own alcohol 6. A cooking experience- wine in the sauce you say? 7. An escape room-bar on site 8. A trip to the cinema or theatre-with a bar 9. A quiz night-win 10 pints 10. A creative workshop-with a bar next door. Before I went T-Total 7/8 months ago. how my mind would see each of these events, mad right?