Why Manchester Companies Are Ditching the Pub for Paint Nights

Let’s be honest, how many times can you do the same old pub quiz or bowling night before your team starts making excuses? Manchester businesses are waking up to something we have suspected for a while: traditional corporate socials are a bit rubbish and outdated.

That is why companies across the city, from the BBC to Deloitte, are swapping pints for paintbrushes. And frankly, it is about time!

It is Not About Being Artsy

Here is the thing that puts most people off when you mention "art class", they immediately think they need to be the next Van Gogh. They do not.

When Sarah from Accounts and Dave from IT are both equally terrible at painting clouds, something brilliant happens. Suddenly, the usual office dynamics disappear. The MD who is normally intimidating is laughing at their wonky tree trunk, and the quiet graduate who never speaks up is offering colour-mixing tips.

It is the great equaliser, that no amount of trust falls or team challenges can achieve.

Why Paint Nights Actually Work

Most team-building activities feel forced. Remember that time you had to catch someone falling backwards? Cringe. But there is something about creating together that feels natural. You are all focused on your own canvas, chatting away without the pressure of structured "team bonding."

Plus, there's actual science behind it. Creative activities genuinely reduce stress hormones and boost the feel-good chemicals in your brain. Your team is not just having fun they are unwinding from work stress.

Manchester Gets It

This city's always been about making things, hasn't it? From the mills to the music scene, we are a city that understands the value of creativity. So, it makes perfect sense that Manchester companies are leading the charge on this.

Walk into any of the venues around the city centre, and you will see teams from major employers getting stuck in. The University of Liverpool had their entire department leadership team painting. Sainsbury's Bank regularly books sessions for their Manchester office. Even the notoriously serious corporate types at Deloitte have been spotted with paint-covered fingers!

The Logistics Actually Make Sense

Here is what is brilliant about it, we will come to you! Fancy doing it in your boardroom? Done. Want to head out to one of Manchester's lovely venues with a proper bar? Sorted.

The whole thing takes about two hours, which is perfect. Long enough to relax and have a laugh, short enough that people do not start checking their phones or worrying about deadlines.

And yes, we handle all the messy bits. Setup, cleanup, the lot. You just turn up and paint.

It is Not Just About the Painting

The real magic happens in the conversations. When you are concentrating on not making a mess of your masterpiece, you end up having real chats with colleagues you normally only see in meetings.

People share stories, help each other out with tricky bits, and act like human beings rather than job titles. It is the kind of natural team building that builds teams.

What Your Team Actually Takes Away

Unlike most corporate events, where the only lasting memory is a group photo everyone looks awkward in, paint nights give everyone something tangible. That slightly wonky landscape on your office wall becomes a conversation starter. It reminds people of the time they spent creating together.

More importantly, when teams get back to work, they often find they communicate better. Something about seeing each other in a different context making mistakes, helping each other and having a laugh, changes the dynamic for the better.

Your team spends most of their waking hours at work. The least you can do is make sure they enjoy each other's company when they are not glued to their screens.

Traditional corporate socials feel like an obligation. Paint nights feel like a treat. And in a competitive job market (where keeping good people matters more than ever) that difference is worth paying attention to.

So next time you are planning a team social, skip the karaoke night. Pick up some brushes instead. Your team will thank you for it and you might even discover that Dave from IT has been hiding some serious artistic talent.

Ready to give it a go? Trust us, it is more fun than another round of "wonderwall" at the local pub. Enquire now about how Paint Away Events can help your next corporate event.