Let’s talk Christmas

More than halfway through the year, talk is now turning to the festive season as event venues start to finalise Christmas packages for parties, corporate celebrations and private dinners. In recent years, there has been a change in the way organisers book Christmas events, often booking later. However, 2023 is set to be the first worry-free season with companies coming together to celebrate and in turn, this has led to a change in expectations.

“Guests are wanting more than just dinner and drinks; they are after an experience to remember which allows time to socialise and network, without compromising on quality” comments Tim Cramp, Director of London catering company, Party Ingredients. “It is key for caterers to go beyond the menu to curate experiences which match the individual needs of the client, whether this is a bespoke menu, bookable masterclass or entertainment to pair with a theme.”

Ready for the start of festivities, Party Ingredients has launched its Christmas packages across its venues, which include a portfolio of Livery Halls and historic venues in the City of London. With over 40 years of experience in delivering great occasions at many of London’s sought-after venues, the company has changed its approach to party season to match the needs of organisers.

“As we look after many historical venues in our portfolio, we need to keep in mind the heritage of these buildings when creating festive packages and have tailored our themes to match this,” Tim continues. “For Christmas, we are keeping things traditional, championing hyper-seasonal British produce, sourced as locally as possible to ensure the best quality possible.”

This approach to using seasonal produce is part of the company’s sustainability focus, which is key for all venues and organisers to keep in mind for events. Party Ingredients works closely with suppliers to ensure produce is sourced from British suppliers with limited food miles, while food waste is donated to local charities such as FareShare.

However, to create an immersive experience, Party Ingredients encourages creativity amongst its team through a range of themed packages. Able to host events from ranging from dinners of 20 to receptions for 1500, Party Ingredients excels in creating bespoke experiences to meet every client’s needs. An example of this is at the Apothecaries Hall, wherein the team are utilising the original features of the venue to set the scene for an Agatha Christie ‘Who Dunnit?’ party package, wherein organisers can book a fully immersive experience from the moment they enter. This includes bespoke menus with cocktails and dishes themed to match the storyline – from potions to poisons.

Across the other venues, add-ons include music, dance lessons and drinks masterclasses. Party Ingredients chefs have also introduced food stations, tailored to international cuisines.  All these can be added onto party experiences and tailored for both small and large gatherings.

There is also a shift in drinks, with more organisers booking non-alcoholic packages, in which Party Ingredients caters for this need by offering more interesting choices, including creative mocktails and sparkling wines from Wild Idol.

By keeping on-top of current trends and the needs of those booking events, Party Ingredients is jingling all the way this Christmas season, ready to offer bespoke, worry-free options for all celebrations, big and small.