This Christmas's hottest hospitality events for groups

Missed the races this summer? Invite your colleagues and clients to celebrate at one of the many seasonal race meetings. 

Newbury Racecourse starts early (30 November, 1 December) with its Ladbrokes Winter Carnival and Trophy Day. Private all-day hospitality suites are on offer with packages starting at £395pp (free-flowing booze, canapés, three-course lunch and afternoon tea, among other treats). 

Ascot Racecourse goes all out at Christmas. We recommend the Christmas Racing Weekend – a festive finale on 21 and 22 December. Themed menus, winter cocktails, brass bands and a spectacularly decorated Grandstand provide the ideal party atmosphere. Choose between private box (from £104pp) and fine dining (from £115pp) packages – either in the Grandstand’s On 5 restaurant or the Parade Ring. 

You don’t have to be a horsey type to enjoy Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Expect high-quality competitions, displays and jumps; the show has some pretty swanky private boxes, too, with excellent views. You can enjoy black-tie fine dining for up to 12 guests (starting at £1,680 per box). 

There are some juicy matches and local derbies for Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge in December. The team meets local rivals Fulham on 1 December with packages starting at £250pp. The real nail-biter, though, will be when they go head to head against defending Premier League champions Manchester City (8 December). Expect to pay £895pp for Platinum packages. Leicester City is up on 22 December and packages include champagne, canapés, fine dining, gifts and tours. 

Who said tennis is a summer-only sport? The Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall, from 6 to 9 December, is one of the season’s most exciting events. New for this year is the Champion Club package, which includes a champagne reception with canapés, gourmet food and a complimentary bar (from £1,468 per box). The Racquet Club offering is another solid winner as it includes a Q&A with one of the game’s legends (£240pp). Courtside dining is also an option for groups of six (£224pp). 

The William Hill World Darts Championship is not only the sport’s biggest tournament, it’s also one of the biggest parties of the season. Join fans in fancy dress to watch the world’s finest darts players compete to lift the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace from 13 December to 1 January. Packages start at £245pp through Blue Chip Hospitality.

Excitingly, the National Theatre has just launched its rooftop space The Deck, which is available for pre- and post-theatre VIP events (yes, even in December). Combine it with the latest smash-hit play, Nine Night, directed by Natasha Gordon (1 December to 9 February). 

We’d also recommend Matthew Bourne’s modern interpretation of Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells, a venue with top-class hospitality packages in its Pina Bausch Room. If you’re looking for something specifically festive, try A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic. Director Matthew Warchus has created a big-hearted version of the Charles Dickens classic with help from writer Jack Thorne (if his work with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat). Previews from 27 November. 

Hamilton is still going strong and you can catch it at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Choose from champagne packages starting at £220pp or VIP packages from £274pp (think premium seats, canapés and free-flowing drinks). 

Any Take That fans out there? More than a few, we’re guessing. Even those who weren’t devastated when Britain’s most successful boy group disbanded in 1996 ought to be entertained by the new The Band musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Written by Olivier Award winner Tim Firth, it’s a fascinating look at the effect Take That had on teenagers back in the 90s. You can enjoy the production from the comfort of the Oscar Wilde Room – free bar, private entrance (from £127pp). 

If you’ve yet to tick some of the established West End favourites off your bucket list, these are a great option for hospitality. VIP it up at the Aldwych Theatre, where hit musical Tina plays throughout December. Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre is another classic, with VIP packages available from £135pp. Alternatively, head down to Shaftesbury Theatre and groove it out at Motown The Musical. 

Head to the Royal Albert Hall in December, when the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will be celebrating music from some of the great Christmas films at A Hollywood Christmas (19th) – think The Nightmare Before Christmas and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Alternatively, take in one of John Williams’s great movie scores at Home Alone in Concert (22nd). 

The lineup at The O2 is also impressive, with performers such as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (2nd), Mariah Carey (11th, pictured) and Paul McCartney (16th). The venue’s VIP Club ensures top seats as well as private dining options, suites and hospitality.