As Leeds continues its rise in the UK’s business sector, the number of party venues available has also increased. For office Christmas parties Leeds has plenty of venues that are traditional, quirky, and creative! For smaller teams, there are smaller intimate venues, and for large parties, there are grand halls! There are plenty of options that will fit in any budget or style!
When picking a location, the city center of Leeds is usually the baseline for most businesses. It is easily accessible for everyone, and there is a multitude of venues that are all within walking distance of one another. So if your preferred venue is booked, there are plenty of options nearby! For Christmas parties, the bars, restaurants, and private dining hall options on Call Lane and Greek Street are good choices. Many of them are unique and have more character than the typical corporate hotel function room.
Leeds has especially stunning historical buildings that open for private hire, such as the Corn Exchange, which has beautifully memorable circular architecture. There are also event spaces that are Victorian warehouses, which feels like you are in a place with history because they have such exposed brick and high ceilings. In a time where social media is so prevalently used, the venues do look great, and it may matter more than it should, but when event spaces photograph brilliantly, that is always a good bonus.
For a bit more formal venues, the financial district around Park Row and Wellington Street is more suitable for this . There are well known hotels that have adequate function rooms and well experienced event teams that have hosted a great number of Christmas parties. They are great for organisation because they take the pressure off whoever is the organiser. Sometimes it is nice to have that reliability, even if they may have an overly corporate feel that makes it samey.
If your office is based around the business parks located along the ring road, you might prefer staying local to the office rather than dragging everyone into the town centre. Thorpe Park and White Rose have some decent choices. The local business parks have easy parking and no worries about catching last buses home. The downside is, these venues often are not as atmospheric as city centre venues, and people might drift off home after the event rather than make it or stay for the rest of the night.
When it comes to informal, Leeds does it better than anywhere and its perfect for teams that want to avoid the formality of other venues. The Northern Quarter and the North Street area are full of independent bars and restaurants that can easily handle group bookings. A lot of these places have private dining rooms or can offer the whole space for sections of the venue, but the food is usually better than standard function catering and the vibe is unlike something youd have at a corporate catering event.
Budget is a big consideration when choosing a venue, and Leeds does offer a complete range of options. You could spend a lot of money on champagne performances in a 5 star hotels; or, you could opt for a pub function room that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. The Calls area has options of varying prices, and in some cases, in the same street that makes it easier for comparing a few options in a single afternoon of venue searching.
Transport links are more important than you might think at first. Venues near the train station are good for teams that have people coming in from the surrounding towns. For colleagues driving, it makes life easier if you have somewhere that has nearby parking or is easy to get to by taxi. The city center is compact enough that most venues are within walking distance from one another, which is useful if plans change, or if groups want to move on after.
December gets booked up really quickly in Leeds. Nice venues fill their Christmas slots up months in advance and can be as early as September. If you are reading at this in November and trying to find somewhere for mid December, you are going to have very few options. Looking early is the best route to go, but if you are trying to go last minute, you will have to take what is left. Weekends are booked up quickly, but mid-week dates cost less and are available more often which makes it a good option.
Some venues have special event packages set up specifically for office parties. This most often includes welcome drinks, a set menu, and sometimes a small amount of entertainment. They make the planning a lot easier and give a definite amount for budgeting. Unfortunately, these options do have less customizability, but for larger groups, it’s a lot easier to have everything done in a single booking.
Smaller companies, with teams under twenty, do have more options. Restaurants that would normally decline a private booking might say yes to you if it’s a relatively less busy weeknight. Intimate celebrations do work well at boutique bars in the Corn Exchange or Victoria Quarter. They have more personal service and often food that is of better quality, in contrast to larger venues that might just be serving the same meals to three different parties at the same time.
Leeds has increasingly more options for venues that are specifically inclusive of different dietary and access needs. Most central venues now have step-free access, and kitchens are used to vegetarian, vegan, and allergen meals. If remote workers are going to be joining via video call, ensure the venue has appropriate WiFi before booking.
Weather wise, December is perhaps the most miserable month in Yorkshire, especially when having to be outside. The freezing rain is less than pleasant, especially when people have to be outside to find a place in a new area and have to figure out the correct door to go through. Venues with cloakroom facilities are a godsend and worth it given the heavy outerwear that must be worn to combat the elements.
Some of Leeds best partying spots are in places most people`d never guess. Holbeck’s refurbished mills, the city centers rooftop buildings, and a handful of galleries and museums that can be rented out for evening events. Unlike private restaurant dining rooms, these places have something to differentiate themselves and can make a private event a lot more memorable.
Reliability needs to be considered as well, and a lot of the time, their quirky places have never managed a group so large, and service is horrid due to inexperience. Bad restaurants and venues can be really good at advertising a place, but it’s best to inquire about how the venue is with requests. Quirky character does matter, but just as equally is how well they can actually operate with whatever they`ve got.
Christmas parties in Leeds are so much fun! However, to get the best experience, make sure to start looking for venues ahead of time! Every team is different, so make sure to get to know your team, rather than trying to guess what they will enjoy. Also, take into account the atmosphere of the venue, ease of access, and your budget. If you take the time to plan and know what you are looking for, you will easily find the perfect venue!
