Christmas 2023: 15 Venues for Fantastic Festive Parties
A round-up of excellent venues that'll make your staff Christmas party something really special
The office Christmas party is a festive staple and source of a million scandalous stories but also a highlight of the year for many companies. Of course, one of the key factors is location – the right bar or restaurant with the right food and drink.
To help you get that part right, we’ve pulled together a selection of excellent venues in the Newcastle city centre that are available to host your Christmas bash to your exact specifications.
Revolucion de Cuba, Cloth Market
This slice of Havana on the Cloth Market goes all out for Christmas, influenced by the spirit of Las Parrandas de Remedios. The venue is available for private hire by room or full venue takeover, with a variety of packages from two or three-course meals, tapas tasting or the Mostrador package, a Cuban Christmas buffet! Also, December 12th is Fiesta Night, with live music and DJs from 6pm to 1am and a variety of meal packages.
Lane7, St. James’ Boulevard
You probably already know about Lane7 – the vibey venue offering bowling, pool, ping-pong and more alongside great bar food, beer and cocktails. But you may not know that they offer a variety of hire packages in the basement or on the first floor, just right for Christmas. They can accommodate from 14 to 200 guests (!) and all manner of different options depending on the length of hire, number of drinks, amount of bowling and more. Contact the Lane7 team to discuss your needs.
Pitcher & Piano, Quayside
Pitcher & Piano are able to provide a party that can suit most budgets and party sizes, whether you’re planning a 3-course set menu, a festive buffet or just a drinks gathering. Not only that, but if you book by Halloween, there are gift vouchers available depending on the size of your party.
St. James’ Park, Strawberry Place
St James’ Park is very lively around Christmas time. For a start they have a few festive party nights of their own - the Christmas Cracker and Christmas Cracker Buffets that run throughout late November and up till Christmas, and a Soul & Motown Tribute Night on December 15th which promises a 3-course meal and a live set of classic soul from Soul Sensation. They also offering private parties, to your precise specifications, and can accommodate 25 to 1000 guests. The standard package includes a glass of fizz on arrival, a 3-course festive meal, drinks promotions and a DJ and costs around £55 per head.
Purple Peacock, 55 Degrees North
As you’d expect, Newcastle’s premier show bar Purple Peacock has a packed schedule of Christmas-themed shows this December. From Santa Claus Is Coming To Motown to the Knowing Me, Knowing You Christmas Special (an Abba-themed night rather than an Alan Partridge tribute, to be clear!), every weekend has shows that would be perfect for a Christmas party, and a range of packages to suit everyone, from £24.95pp for the entertainment and a drink to £75pp which includes a VIP seat and a 3-course meal.
The Vermont Hotel, Castle Garth
The Vermont Hotel has a remarkably busy festive schedule, so much so that they’ve provided a brochure! Their Black & Gold Christmas Parties and Christmas Party Nights run every weekend in December and offer drinks, a 3-course meal and a DJ, and there are also Off Peak Party nights and Christmas Party Lunches in December to get you in the Christmas mood. They even keep things going into the following month with their January Party Nights, offering a buffet and a DJ to help fight off the January blues. All this plus a range of private hire options that can accommodate up to 150 people for a party or 15 people for a meal or afternoon tea.
Gino D’Acampo Restaurant, Quayside
As well as its own Christmas events, Quayside favourite Gino’s is well-placed to host private parties with a variety of spaces (from dining rooms to conference spaces) that can cater for 20 to 300 people. There are special festive menus and drinks packages available and there’ll be a DJ on hand to keep the party going!
Twenty Twenty, Bigg Market
Not only does Twenty Twenty have an ideal private party space, it’s free to use too! Called The Arches, this atmospheric area can take up to 60 guests, has a 2am licence and they can provide a finger food buffet – things like pizzas, dough spirals and popcorn – and various drinks packages. There are also booths and smaller areas for more modest gatherings – just contact the events team to start planning your party.
Pleased To Meet You, High Bridge
Popular High Bridge bar Pleased To Meet You is offering private hire options from November 20th right through till December 29th. You can book a dinner for up to 12 people or hire The Viceroy, their hidden function room that can accommodate up to 120 people with everything from buffets to 3-course meals and drinks-only packages. DJs, live musicians and other options are available too. Contact the Viceroy team to start arranging your soiree.
The Botanist, Monument Mall
The Botanist really immerses itself in Christmas cheer with an array of Christmas events and private hire options to make your office party one to remember. There’s Botanist Bingo and cocktail masterclasses for example, and if you just want to host a big ole party to remember in a remarkable location, they can accommodate parties from 10 to 150+, shaping the package to suit your budget and your desires!
Malmaison, Quayside
As well as an enticing range of festive menus and seasonal events, Quayside hotel Malmaison also has a range of private hire options that might be just what your party needs. Available from mid-November to December 29th, there are several dining options from 3-course meals to a festive buffet, and a bar drinks party for up to 30 people, which includes festive finger food and your first drink for free with all sorts of extras available too.
Discovery Museum, Blandford Square
There aren’t many venues available for private hire that are as impressive as the Discovery Museum, but this magnificent landmark does make a number of its spaces available for private hire, from the Great Hall – which can accommodate 350 people – to some of its more intimate rooms. You can even hire the whole museum, which can take 1000 people! Contact the bookings team, who liaise with catering suppliers to provide everything from canapes to 3-course meals.
Victors, Quayside
Quayside restaurant Victors has a prime location, a great reputation and some perfect private hire options that might be just what you’re looking for. Whether you want to hire the restaurant – capacity up to 70 people – or the fully covered and heated terrace (35 people), the Victors staff can help build your perfect Christmas party, with food and drink packages to meet your needs exactly.
Aspers Casino, The Gate
Aspers Casino, found in The Gate, is hosting a series of Christmas parties throughout December, which might be the kind of lively happening your staff are looking for. £25 per head gets you an exclusive table, a drink and Xmas sandwich, a DJ and a free £5 bet. And it’s open till 4am for the really hardcore.
Electric Jungle @ Life Science Centre, Times Square
This Christmas, the aptly named ‘Best Parties Ever’ team have taken over the Life Science Centre to stage Electric Jungle, a mind-blowing night of food, drinks, music and entertainment. From interactive dessert stations to cocktail bars, a charity blackjack casino to DJs, UV acrobats and amazing lighting - and of course a 3-course Christmas dinner - this is a Christmas party on steroids. Running from to 16th December, you can book for parties of 8 and upwards and prices start at £47.50 per person.
So whatever your staff want to do for this year’s Christmas party, there’s a venue in town that can’t wait to host you. Whether you want a fluoro-extravaganza in a science museum or a night of bowling, an evening dancing to soul and drinking fine cocktails or a night pretending you’re in Havana, Newcastle has exactly what you need this Christmas.
