The adverts have started, so we thought we’d get in early too. Everyone has to celebrate this season, from office parties where the accounts guys let loose, to the good excuse for a party and dress up as a slutty Santa. Here is where us BarChicks think you can have the ultimate Yuletide times, from the big corporate gigs to the small raucous sessions… Happy Christmas people.
0 – 10 people
What’s not to love about this fun-filled, Berlusconi tribute, karaoke clad, pizza haven – we say nothing, so get the office involved this Christmas. There are loads of different packages to choose from all of which include a whole load of delicious Italian food, think pizza, focaccia and cured meats. Whatever you do, add the Emperor package to your table and bask in crackers, caps, props, shots and costumes.
37 Battersea Bridge Road, London, SW11 3BA
If you think the office party will go a hell of a lot better with a load of gin, then grab the crew and head down here for gin blending lessons at The Ginstitute. Tickets are £100 each, but there is a 10% discount on groups of over 7.
171 Portobello Road, London, W11 2DY
If your office is pretty small, these guys can accommodate 8 in the dining room. It’s pretty special in here, with delicious food and amazing cocktails all in a sexy dimly lit ambiance.
69-71 Dean Street, London, W1D 3SE
Probably one of the coolest places you can go to party – they’ve got amazingly inventive cocktails, a whole load of fancy dress and a cool crowd. Bring the office for cocktails, and cancel dinner out, they’ve got a wicked small food menu that includes ‘around the world in 80 nibbles.’ PS don’t go home wearing the lederhosen, they’re BarChick’s favourite.
Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3 3DW
0 – 20 people
If you’re an intimate office of 12 or less, hire the private media room at CUT. With amazing steaks, a fantastic wine list, impeccable service and a wicked Bang & Olufsen 3D screen, you can pop on some home videos (no not those ones) if conversation runs dry.
45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1PN
These guys have a private room that can seat up to 24 people, so if you are an office of meat eating carnivores with a bit of cash to splash at the office party then DO IT. The steaks are mouth-watering and the cocktails insane. Start with a round of Rum Numbers (they’re the strongest on the menu)… ought to get the night off to a flying start.
10 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5BQ
We love this mega Peruvian bar and restaurant and we know you will too. If you’re looking to feed and water up to 18 workies then this is great. For £38.50/person you can enjoy a four course meal of yucas, don ceviche, huancaina macaroni and champus limeno – yup, we’ve no clue either but it all sounds too tasty. Once dinner is over hit the Pisco bar, we’ll see you down there.
17 Frith Street, London, W1D 4RG
This big industrial space is the answer to any of city life’s worries, and now they’ve sorted Christmas for you. With a private room that seats 25, tuck into their delicious menu and hit the vino. With sweets in the bathrooms and skinny cocktails, even the lettuce eating secretary will be happy.
58 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BB
Bored of traditional Christmas feasts? Then head here for a spot of lobby instead. These guys are taking bookings of up to 20 people (min spend £35 pp), the only slight hitch is the times: 12 – 2.30, 3 – 5.30 or 6 – 8.30 but hey if your office is pretty dull at least it leaves the rest of the evening free.
29 Clarges Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 7EF / 36 Dean Street, London W1D 4PS
Really get into the spirit of things this year and hire out the Stables, for your private office feast. If there are 14 of you, it’s the perfect place to dine with the added bonus of a plasma screen, surround sound and iPod docking station. The Christmas feast at £45/ person includes pumpkin fritters, braised red deer hot pot and a Christmas Bomb – not sure what it is but we’re going with it.
43-51 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PQ
This place is pretty cool (it is in Shoreditch after all). Rent the private room for 24 people and tuck into breaded brie, fillet of beef and apple crumble. Drink cocktails like the Christmas Mule in jug quantity and who knows the neighbouring Hoxton Hotel might come in handy… Prices range from £29 – £35 (that’s the set menu, not the rooms!).
81 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3HU
Whether there are two of you or 300 of you, The Old School Yard will throw you a wicked party. Think table football, basketball hoops, 80s music and karaoke, plus whatever’s missing they’ll sort. Choose from buffet food, canapés or bowl food and enjoy the cocktails.
111 Long Lane, London, SE1 4PH
These guys can accommodate up to 80 for lunch or dinner but if there’s 24 of you then hire the private dining room. Menus start at £19.50 and include turkey with all the trimmings, grilled sea bass and tipsy trifle – not sure what this is but we want in!
474-476 Fulham Broadway, London SW6 1BY
0 – 30 people
If your office likes to get competitive then All Star Lanes is the party joint for you. Hire private rooms for over 30 people and take advantage of a shed load of bowling, karaoke, a private cocktail bar and either canapés or a sit down meal. Leave your stilettos at home because their shoes are way hotter.
Various locations
Office party at Maggie’s? Now you’re talking. Everything about this place is wicked, from the loos to the drinks. And the good news is that you can feed your work buddies down here too. Ok, so it’s not fine dining but there’s canapés and bowl food available like BBQ pork ribs, spiced meatballs and penne pasta. Maggie we salute you.
329 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9QL
If your office fancy themselves as the next cast of Starlight Express… then put their skills to the test, here. These bar staff aren’t your average, they’re all singing, all dancing and as they place your cocktail in front of you will spontaneously burst into song. Canapés, cocktails and bowl food available, packages from £25 – £65 per person. Go on, serenade Pete from accounts.
3-4 Archer Street, London W1D 7AP
0 – 40 people
They actually transform the restaurant into a real Christmas Grotto, we don’t think you can get more festive (unless you travel to Lapland?). There is private dining for up to 34 people (or canapés and drinks for 50) and a delicious set menu. Hit the Martinis then the absinthe (but be warned the next day could be awkward).
243 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2EP
If you’re based in Islington then this pub is the perfect spot for your office bash. They are offering a 3 course lunch/dinner for £30 a head, so you can get stuck into duck terrine, a full roast turkey then Christmas pud while Kev from sales bores you with tales of caravan holidays along the English coast, at this point, hit the cocktails.
54 Islington Park Street, London N1 1PX
For a taste of Spanish and Moroccan cuisine this winter head here for your office party. It’s spread over three floors so there’s always lots going on. Rent the tapas room for up to 35 people (they have other rooms size dependant) and enjoy chicken tagine, mint lamb meshwei and saffron calamares. Prices range from £29 – £46. Oh and you can hire fire dancers, have belly dancing lessons and shout karaoke. This sounds fun.
45 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4SD
This new pub has got a wicked room called the Bookcase Bar which you can rent for up to 50 people. It’s got its own table tennis table and bar so you can take over and get challenging your workmates. Menus start at £21/person and include crispy belly pork, pan fried sea bass and mulled berry Eton mess. Oh and good luck finding the door out!
13-19 Old Town, London SW4 0JT
If your office are all minimalist loving minions, then Village East is the perfect joint, it’s like a Scandinavian styled warehouse with an extensive cocktail list. Go for the village feast for £42/person and dine on whisky cured salmon, braised shoulder of venison and clementine and prosecco trifle, and hit the aromatic and herbaceous cocktails. Bring your iPod along (maybe delete your favourites first, just in case).
171-173 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UW
Responsible for the surge in speakeasies this is one of the daring originals, and still one of the best. It can cater for groups of up to 50 people (if more you might be able to hire out the whole joint) their cocktails are pretty inventive and they promise their sharing boards will be just as good. Drink Nitro Egg-Nogs and Blue Blazers and we guarantee a lot if sh*t will go down. (£40 – £60pp).
50 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 7HX
Private hire for bookings of up to 50 people. There will be pizzas in full swing, and even custom made menus to suit your office, so if you’re a multicultural office, there will be something for everyone!
202 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SA
0 – 60 people
Hidden through a secret wardrobe this bar is as close as you’re going to get to Narnia people. The cocktails in here will turn your world upside down, and your secretary’s Friday night Revolution trips will quickly be abandoned. Hire the Back Lounge for 50-60 people (they have other rooms for different numbers) and your Christmas party will be like no other.
65 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY
If your office is full of fish heads then spoil them by hiring the Jameson Room for 60 workies. With its own private bar, plasma screen and late licence it’s got everything you need for an awesome night. 3 course menus start from £46 and include delights like monkfish en croute, ceviche of scallops and seared mackerel.
11 Swallow Street London, W1B 4DG
If your office considers themselves to be a little on the edgy side (but not Shoreditch edgy) then take them to the supperclub because it will be sure to delight with their frozen fantasy land. The mezzanine level can be hired for private dining for 60 people, so you can enjoy incredible food and drink whilst watching spectacular performances and listening to mind blowing DJs. Boom.
12 Acklam Road London, Greater London W10 5QZ
0 – 70 people
Why not sex things up this Christmas and whisk your office away for a spot of burlesque. If there’s over 60 of you then you can book the Cabaret Salon and have a good old private dose of burlesque, cabaret, mind blowing magic, sexy songs and live circus acts while you drink, eat and get saucy. Grrrrrr.
9 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1EJ
0 – 80 people
They boast a number of rooms available for private hire for anything up to 80 people. With anything from 3 course menus, sharing boards and a buffet option plus a well-stocked selection of craft beer, even Ted from accounts will be happy.
9-11 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 6BX
80+ people
The Worship Street Whistling Shop
This bad boy can accommodate up to 130 of your colleagues (assuming you have that many, Google?) so if you’re looking for a Victorian gin palace/Dickensian theme this year then look no further. Amazing cocktails (they have an in-house lab) and a pie and mash pop-up, we’re booking. (£40 – £60pp).
63 Worship Street London, Greater London EC2A 2DU
With a private dining room this place is great for parties and can offer different deals for up to 96 people. Choose from different menus ranging from £39 – £92 per person which includes drink and dinner. Plus go all out and hire a pianist for £300 or hot the evening up with some cabaret for £600.
23–27 Wadeson Street. London E2 9DR
If you’re office is bigger than the Shard and you’re looking to entertain them all (without renting a stadium) then the social in Soho can be hired for 250 people. Drinks, dancing and an outside kitchen can be provided for party food – probably a good call.
5 Little Portland Street London W1W 7JD
Whether there’s 2 of you or 200 of you, these guys have got your back when it comes to the Christmas party. With classic drinks, which are provocative and stylish, it’s 1920 in here after all. You can even throw in a cocktail master class for your guests if you so wish. Choose from a buffet or a 3-course a la carte menu sit down menu.
697 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 3JF
If you work in Battersea and your office isn’t full of your average suited and booted types then this is where to party. It can hold up to 200 peeps and it’s always wicked fun, with party vibes and good DJs. Get creative, they’ll decorate for you and dress the hell up.
231 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 4LG
If you’re looking to hire out a venue, that includes a bar and a brasserie then this is a wicked place. The atmosphere will be set with candlelight, Christmas scents and decorations , so you can sidle up to the hotter colleagues. Full venue hire ranges from £1,000 – £10,000 minimum spend and you can choose from canapés, bowl food or a three course lunch/dinner.
22 Great Marlborough St. London, W1F 7HU
Oh my god there’s a bar through a cupboard. If you really want to impress your colleagues then book out the whole of this wicked bar and for an extra £350 get a DJ too. Hell yes, this is how to do it. Get food and a tea cup cocktail reception and you will be hands down the coolest kid in the office.
65 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY
