About Your Christmas Do...

Christmas party planning again… oh the joy.

You know the drill - someone's volunteered you to sort this year's office bash and you're staring at the same tired options. That restaurant where the turkey's drier than the office banter, the karaoke place where Derek thinks he's Elton John or the pub quiz where everyone pretends to care about sport from 1987.

There's got to be something better, hasn't there?

Well Actually, There Is

Paint Away Events have been quietly revolutionising Christmas parties across the country. And before you roll your eyes and think "oh great, another team building thing," hear me out.

This isn't trust falls or role-playing exercises… it's painting… with wine… at Christmas! What's not to like?

Plus, they've just expanded to Bristol and York, so if you're in either of those cities, you're in luck.

Why Most Office Christmas Parties Are Rubbish

Let's not pretend otherwise, you've been to them. We all have.

There's always that awkward bit at the start where nobody knows what to talk about except work, which defeats the entire point. Then someone has too much to drink and starts sharing opinions about the management structure. Meanwhile, half the team's checking their phones wondering when it's socially acceptable to leave.

Sound about right?

The problem is most Christmas parties are just normal social situations with tinsel. Same conversations, same dynamics, just with worse music and higher expectations.

Paint Away Events figured out something clever - give people something to do with their hands and suddenly they relax. Give them something creative to focus on and the conversation flows naturally. Add some Christmas themes and decent drinks and you've actually got a party worth attending.

What Actually Happens at These Things?

So here's how it works. Either they rock up to your office with everything needed - easels, paints, brushes, canvases, the lot - or you head to one of their partner venues that's already set up.

Everyone gets their own canvas and painting station. There's an instructor who's actually good at this stuff, not some poor soul who drew the short straw. They guide you through painting something Christmassy - might be winter scenes, festive decorations, whatever takes your fancy.

The brilliant bit? Everyone's painting the same general thing, but they all turn out completely different. Sarah from accounts discovers she's got a artistic streak, whilst Big Tony from the warehouse creates something surprisingly delicate. Meanwhile, you're just trying not to get paint on your good shirt.

There's Christmas music playing, people are chatting naturally because they're not just standing around awkwardly, and by the end everyone's got something to take home that isn't a hangover and regret.

Bristol has Got Its Creative Side Sorted Now

Bristol has always been an arty city, hasn't it? Banksy's hometown, decent music scene, people who actually care about culture. Now Paint Away's added to the mix with Christmas paint parties.

They'll come to your office anywhere in Bristol - doesn't matter if you're in the centre or out in the suburbs, turn your meeting room into an art studio for the evening, then back to boring normality for the next day.

Or if you fancy making a night of it, their Bristol partner venues are pretty decent. Imagine painting Christmas scenes while looking out over the harbour, or creating your masterpiece in one of those characterful Bristol spots that makes you feel like you're somewhere special.

Either way, your Bristol Christmas party just got a lot more interesting.

York's Medieval Streets Meet Modern Fun

York at Christmas is already pretty magical - the medieval streets, the Minster looking dramatic against winter skies, Christmas markets filling the air with mulled wine smells. Now Paint Away's adding another reason to love December in York.

Picture your lot gathered in some cosy York venue, Christmas tunes playing quietly in the background, everyone actually concentrating on their paintings instead of making forced small talk about quarterly targets. It's the kind of Christmas party that brings people together instead of just ticking a box.

York's nice and compact too, so Paint Away can get to pretty much any office in the city centre with their mobile setup. And once you're done painting, you're surrounded by brilliant pubs and restaurants to carry the celebration on.

Why Private Bookings Beat Everything Else

You could book individual spots at public events, but private bookings are where it's at.

Your Team Only - No random strangers making awkward conversation, no competing with other groups for attention, just your people having a laugh together.

Times That Actually Work - Public events run when they run. Private bookings work around your schedule. Need to finish early because half your team's got kids to collect? Sorted. Want a long lunch thing instead of evening? No problem.

Make It Your Own - Want to paint something that reflects your business? Include company colours? Create decorations for the office? Paint Away can make it happen.

Better Value - When you add up the personalised service, timing flexibility, and the fact that everyone actually enjoys themselves, private bookings often work out cheaper than traditional Christmas party options.

Small Teams, Big Teams, Any Teams

Private bookings start from 10 people, but they handle much bigger groups too.

Got a small, tight-knit team? Perfect. Paint parties work brilliantly for intimate groups where everyone can actually talk to each other.

Managing 50+ people who need entertaining? Also fine. Paint Away brings multiple instructors so nobody gets left behind.

Mixing departments? Entertaining clients? Family business bash? They've seen it all.

The beauty is it works for everyone - the artistic types love the creative challenge, the non-artistic types love discovering they're not as hopeless as they thought, and the antisocial ones love having something to do with their hands that isn't small talk.

The Mess Factor (There Isn't One)

Before you start worrying about paint on the office carpet, relax. These aren't amateurs. Paint Away's been doing this for years - they know how to set up, run an event, and clean up afterwards without leaving a trace.

If they're coming to your office, they'll protect surfaces, provide aprons and leave everything exactly as they found it. If you're going to a venue, it's already set up for this kind of thing.

The only mess you need to worry about is the existential crisis Derek might have when he realises he's actually quite good at art.

December Books Up Fast

Christmas party venues get booked early. The good restaurants, the decent function rooms, even the half-decent karaoke places - they're all taken by people who plan ahead.

Same goes for Paint Away's calendar. The prime December dates fill up quickly, especially for private bookings in Bristol and York, where they're the new kids on the block.

While everyone else is still arguing about where to go and whether Dave's vegetarian this year, you could have your Christmas party sorted, with something people will actually remember for the right reasons.

Here's The Thing…

Your team is going to have a Christmas party whether it's good or bad. Same budget, same time commitment, same expectation that someone will organise something festive.

The only difference is whether they'll spend the evening checking their phones and plotting escape routes, or whether they'll actually relax, have a laugh and maybe see their colleagues in a different light.

Paint Away's made it pretty simple. They handle the organisation, bring everything needed, clean up afterwards, and give your team an experience they'll actually want to talk about come January.

Bristol and York are ready for something different this Christmas. The question is, are you?

Stop overthinking it. Give them a call and get your Christmas party booked before all the good dates disappear. Your team will thank you for it - probably while they're still trying to work out how they managed to paint something that doesn't look like it was done by a five-year-old.

Result!