9 Unique Work Christmas Party Ideas

Is it time to refresh your work Christmas party? Even if your favourite local restaurant or bowling alley never disappoints, a fresh approach might be just what you need this season. Fortunately, the UK now offers a wider variety of group entertainment venues and activities than ever before, so if your usual routine feels a bit worn out, there are plenty of thrilling alternatives. Here are 9 of our top picks for unique work Christmas party ideas to make this year’s celebration go down in history!

Festive Food and Drink Workshop

Have you ever wondered what makes a Yule Log so moreish or the perfect blend for a smooth, spiced eggnog? If so, this festive cooking workshop is a must-try for you and your team! Step into a kitchen brimming with holiday cheer, where a professional chef guides you through whipping up Christmas classics where you’ll get hands-on with a tasty range of festive food and drink items. The best part? It’s all set up for a bit of friendly competition where each team has its own cooking station, so you can go head-to-head to see who creates the ultimate holiday treat, aiming to outdo your colleagues with your expert culinary skills! This isn’t just recipe-following; it’s a chance to showcase your skills, unleash your inner chef, and have a great laugh together. And after all the fun in the kitchen, you’ll sit down to a tasting session, swapping bites, sharing tips, and toasting to an unforgettable Christmas. You can find a range of cooking classes on the Gordon Ramsay Academy or The BBC Good Food Show websites.

DIY Ornament and Wreath Making

Introducing a slightly different Christmas work party idea for those creative folk among us. A DIY ornament and wreath-making workshop is a unique idea to get everyone in a fun-festive mood.
Imagine a cosy, holiday-themed space filled with glitter, baubles, ribbons, fresh greenery, and every festive material imaginable. A friendly crafting expert will guide everyone through creating unique ornaments and wreaths, perfect for adding a personal touch to holiday decor. No crafting experience? No problem! It’s all about getting hands-on, having a laugh, and maybe even a bit of friendly competition to see who can make the most impressive holiday masterpiece. With individual crafting stations and plenty of room for creativity, everyone leaves with stunning decorations, new skills, and shared festive fun. It’s ideal for team bonding and guaranteed to spread plenty of holiday cheer, especially if you add a glass of wine to the mix. 

Christmas Cabaret Night

Dazzling lights, plenty of fizz and a hilarious on-stage show leaving everyone in stitches? Yes please! A Christmas cabaret night with your workmates might be the perfect solution for this year’s Christmas work party idea. A combination of festive music, dancing, food and drinks awaits you and your hard working colleagues, what a way to end the working year! Instead of the usual drunken dance-off for this year’s Christmas party, take a seat at a beautifully decorated table, complete with crackers, wine and festive treats, and leave the dancing to those on stage. Be careful though, sit too close and you may get picked on, just ensure you don’t get embarrassed too easily! Life’s too short for boring Christmas parties, branch out and head to a festive cabaret this year. You can find some good options at The London Cabaret Club or the Haus of Cabaret.

Ice Skating Christmas Disco

Take ice skating, but make it festive by adding some Christmas music, light shows and maybe even a Christmas tree to dodge in the middle of the rink. An ice skating Christmas disco sounds like a fantastic Christmas work party idea, right? Wrap up warm in your favourite Christmas jumper and some gloves, you and your workmates are heading to the ice. It’s time to experience your colleague’s hidden talent as they twirl and twist on the ice like an olympian, all the while your boss is struggling to stand up for more than a minute (not due to the beers!). You’ll definitely all need a drink and a tasty bite after this to refuel, though. Different ice rinks around the country are hosting a festive-themed event or two, including one at the Alexandra Palace, London. 

 

A Christmassy Fun Run

What could be more fun than dressing up as Santa, running around for a bit and then heading to the pub? Sounds like a perfect Christmas do if you ask the fitness-fanatic in your team! Christmassy fun runs are becoming more popular all over the country, and you can see why as they seem great fun, even to just watch if you don’t fancy the exercise. Some would say you have to earn your mince pie and pint after, though! Plenty of Santa fun-runs around the country are charity-focussed, ensuring you’re contributing to a good cause when you place on the iconic red trousers, jacket and hat, and with the weather turning, you’ll probably want to run around to warm up. Popular runs can be found in Derby, Lincoln and Loughborough, ready to bring some festive cheer, fun and calorie burning to Christmas this year.

A Festive Silent Disco

What could be more fun than donning a pair of glowing headphones, dancing to holiday hits, and watching everyone groove to their own beat? A festive silent disco is the perfect Christmas party twist, especially for those who love to let loose on the dance floor. Imagine everyone jamming to their favourite tunes—whether it's Mariah, Wham!, or classic Christmas carols if that’s what soars your sleigh - each person choosing their own channel for a playlist that suits their holiday vibe. It’s a sight to see: colleagues busting out their best moves, singing along to songs only they can hear! Plus, it’s a great way to keep the atmosphere lively without blasting music over the top. With everyone’s holiday spirit turned up to max, a festive silent disco is a guaranteed laugh, keeping the team merry and bright well into the night. Popular silent discos can be found on Silent Adventures, in St George’s Hall in Liverpool or Covent Garden.

Festive Murder Mystery

Imagine this: the team arrives at a festive gathering, the room decked out in holiday cheer, but there’s a twist—there’s been a “murder” to solve! Everyone is given a role to play, complete with quirky backstories and perhaps even a few dark secrets. As the mystery unfolds, colleagues slip into character, was it the enigmatic CEO, the spirited intern, or the suspicious out-of-town guest? You have to decide…Clues are scattered, alibis are questioned, and the tension builds as everyone tries to figure out who’s behind the crime, and this time it isn’t who just left the office toilet seat up! It’s a brilliant mix of laughs, suspense, and creative sleuthing, where even the least likely detective might uncover the truth! Paired with festive treats, a bit of holiday cheer in a glass, and plenty of playful drama, this murder mystery night is sure to make the office Christmas party an unforgettable evening. You can organise them through companies such as Murder Mystery Co or Murder 57.

Hire Your Own Game Show

Take the competitive nature of the team to a new level with a Christmas themed game show. Christmas quizzes are a thing of the past, organise game show hire to hail the office eggheads and grant them bragging rights. This one isn’t pointless and could easily highlight the weakest link in the company if you’re not careful! Make the most of your office or hire a local space and get your thinking caps on. Celebrating Christmas with a game show is a guaranteed way of ending the working year on a high with laughter, ‘friendly’ competition and maybe even a prize for the winning team. There are several game show hire companies that will organise a game show extravaganza for small or large teams, all coming with dedicated staff to make sure your event goes as smoothly as possible. The pick of the bunch being The Events Company or Game Show! The countdown is on, book a game show for your Christmas work party and watch the madness unfold!

Christmas Karaoke

Who’s got the best pipes in your team—and who’s better off cheering from the sidelines? There’s only one way to find out! This year, turn your holiday party into a karaoke showdown by booking a private booth or heading to a Christmas karaoke night to see if there’s a hidden Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, or even a Bing Crosby in the mix. Imagine seasonal drinks, delicious festive snacks, and everyone in their most gloriously tacky holiday sweaters, all belting out (or attempting to belt out) holiday classics. It’s all about fun, letting loose, and sharing some holiday laughs together in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere. So gather the team, crank up those festive tunes, and let the good times roll!

So, there’s a few unique work Christmas party ideas for you to try. Your whole team will thank you for sprucing it up a little bit this year, raising spirits and cultivating laughs as we head into the next working year. If you need coach or minibus hire to any of these party ideas, don’t hesitate to grab a free quote from Coach Hire Comparison today. We’re experts in corporate travel, school travel and more, getting you from point A to point B in comfort, style and with your own personal driver.