Month: August 2014

Christmas party ideas, Christmas decorations, Christmas party ideas London,

Did someone mention the word Christmas?

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Summer has not finished yet and already there are scores of tweets containing the word #Christmas.

TWEETS

It’s one word which has a value of over £70 Billion for the U.K economy, but what does it mean to you and the company that you work for? Will your company be spending on a staff party or will your colleagues have to contribute? If you enjoyed a company summer party, will you also be treated to a Christmas party? If your company is having a party for Christmas, then you will need to get a move on and book a venue as quickly as possible. The key dates that you are most interested in booking in December, are the same ones that 100 other local companies are looking to book. Then, there is the catering companies, bands and other entertainment services which all get booked very quickly. For this reason, many companies end up having their “Christmas” party in January. It’s not quite the same. To avoid this, as soon as everyone is back from summer holidays, start the snow ball rolling.

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New Bond Street

The hotels in London will be busy, but there are also many venues on the outskirts of London which are worth considering. My steel drum band has performed during the reception drinks at many Christmas parties and also at many office buffet parties at venues in and outside London. If the time has caught up with you and you really can’t find a good venue because they are fully booked, then you can consider having a Christmas buffet in your office and hiring an ensemble to perform. There are many entertainers and small ensembles for office parties and various bands in London that can be hired if you prefer a particular style of music or your party. For a house party, there are also many live music options to choose from and you will find really competent musicians for hire in London, there are literally thousands of dedicated performers and bands that you can hire for a Christmas party.

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Christmas buffet

Nowadays most of your planning can be done when you are commuting or relaxing and browsing your smartphone or tablet PC. The devices are getting better at handling mCommerce and search results are also becoming more “relevant” to save your time. To help, you can browse through my Pinterest board for visual ideas.

After the work Christmas party planning is finished, you can focus on treating yourself and celebrating Christmas with friends and family. A personal treat is compulsory. For me, I have this plan that if I get through an entire season of events without receiving a parking ticket, then I will spend some of the savings on a present. I also like to change my phone at Christmas time, not every Christmas, but it’s usually at that time. Having seen the new iPhone 6 specifications, I will be having a closer look. For children, one of the popular toys this Christmas will be a levitating doll that I saw, the Flutterbye Flying Fairy. There are also a whole new range of remote controlled toys which do amazing things. What personal treat will you buy for Christmas?

 

 

Have you heard the phrase #summerparty mentioned in your office?

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How often do you hear the phrase summer party mentioned in your office?

If you are working for a company that never has a summer party or an office party, then perhaps you need to jump ship and join a team that likes to have fun. Team building is priceless!

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Summer parties in London

There are many articles written about the benefits of an office party and the correlation with improved morale, team building, bonding, etc, and it is great to be part of a team that works hard and plays hard, but total job satisfaction is often more important than salary. Many companies are creating relaxing outdoor spaces and even roof terraces and sky gardens for employees to unwind. Our clients take things to the next level by having lunchtime buffet parties or evening drinks parties and including a live band. They also have a dedicated team which arranges an annual summer party for all staff members.

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Summer parties

London is now one of the most visited capital cities in the world and it has many attractive sites and venues to hire for a summer party. From a certain perspective, you do not need to hire a venue, as long as you plan a day to get out of the office and spend some time bonding with your colleagues. However, there is something really special about having exclusive access to a venue with all the catering, entertainment and activities paid for by your company. It’s a feeling of being appreciated and although a pay increase would be even better, an office party sends the right message from the top.

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Summer parties in London

At one of the events which we covered, the management rolled up their sleeves, went behind the bar and also helped with the food preparation and service. The staff said during the event that it was fantastic to be served by the managers. At another summer party, the company hired the Mound Stand at Lord’s (below) and just enjoyed the spectacular views with summer drinks and live entertainment from our steel drum band ensemble.

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The Mound Stand at Lords

Right now in London, there are more roof terraces for hire than ever before and there are many new buildings coming soon like the Walkie Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street which has a Sky Garden with dedicated event spaces. The capital is growing and after staying inside throughout the Autumn, Winter and most of Spring, it is nice to enjoy the panoramic views from a roof garden or terrace space high above the City.

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New buildings London

The central London skyline looks amazing from a tall building.

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Images of London

You can also enjoy a good summer party from a boat anchored along the Embankment. We have covered corporate parties on HMS President, Tattershall Castle and at Westminster Boating Base.

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Boats to hire for an outdoor party

Summer parties run right up until the end of September as the temperature in London is still quite warm. Our clients try to add something extra to a summer staff party by hiring a steel drum band as entertainment. There are many different ensembles available for hire in London and it is great to utilise this talent and surprise your colleagues with a live band. If you have already had your summer party, please leave some comments and share what you did.