Competitive socialising Christmas parties

A night out built around games: bowling, darts, crazy golf, axe throwing, karaoke and the like, with food and drinks alongside. It works well for Christmas parties because everyone has something to do, whether they are fiercely competitive or just there for the snacks.

Across the venues listed here you can choose from darts, shuffleboard, pool and snooker, arcade games, karaoke, crazy golf, beer pong and bowling, most popular first.

The venues here list room for up to 1,200 guests at the largest, and some suit groups of 40 or fewer. Starting prices run from £16 to £61 per person where listed. Each venue card shows its own capacity and starting price, and the venue will confirm what's included for your group when it replies.

Often, yes. Plenty of activity venues hire out an area, a set of lanes or tables, or the whole venue for bigger groups, including the 29 Roxy and King Pins sites listed here. Say how many of you there are when you enquire and the venue will suggest what fits.

It depends on the venue and the package. Some Christmas packages include food and drinks alongside the games, others are games first with food and drink to add on. Check the venue’s packages, or ask when you enquire.

Send an enquiry to a few venues at once: each one replies directly with the dates it still has, so you can see quickly where there is space. Weeknights often have more space than Fridays and Saturdays.

Save the venues you like and send one free enquiry. Each venue replies to you directly with its Christmas packages, prices and the dates it still has. You book and pay the venue directly, never us.

They are venues listed as competitive socialising, or whose own description, Christmas packages or operator information mention one of these activities. Not every venue lists everything, so check each venue's page, or ask when you enquire, for exactly what's on offer.