Which new venues are ready for 2018 Christmas parties?

One of this year’s most talked-about openings, five-star hotel The Principal London is ready to celebrate its first Christmas in style. Whether you’re after an intimate dinner for 10 or a party for 400, this refurbished Victorian grande dame promises to treat its guests to lavish three-course meals in rather special, ritzy retro-modern settings. Festive packages will include bubbly on arrival and room hire, with prices starting at £115pp.

It’s a year since former newspaper printing press Printworks reopened as a vast events venue, but now the Canada Water behemoth has launched a 3,000-capacity space called the Live Room – and it has big plans for Christmas. ‘Dystopian Dream’ is the theme. Partygoers will enter a parallel world where ‘electric dreams will collide in a colossal concrete jungle’. Sounds fun? With prices starting at £25pp (venue hire only, with DJ) and £65pp (with catering), we say: if your group loves to party, book it fast.

What do you get if you take a 200-year-old former horse hospital in north London and throw in some cabaret dancers, bottomless drinks and a pergola rooftop? That’s right: a banging party venue. For its first Christmas, new immersive space FEST Camden is going to transform its rooftop and indoor party stables into a fun ‘Winter Garden’. Head to the heated rooftop bar for pre-bash cocktails – and views of the famous Camden Stables – before partying the night away in one of London’s coolest new spots.

The National Theatre’s newly refurbished rooftop terrace is ready to impress the most seasoned Christmas partygoers. With panoramic views of London and actual theatre set designers behind the hotly anticipated decor (the theme is still a secret as we go to press), The Deck promises to be a fine spot for a festive evening reception (170 capacity, £120pp) or sit-down dinner (100 capacity, £150pp). 

Opening this autumn, state-of-the-art venue Science Gallery London at King’s College will offer two Christmas party packages. Both start at £120pp and include fizz on arrival plus after-hours entry to the exhibition space. With science in mind, chef Matt Weston will be plating cold and warm food together for Christmas lunch, which he believes stimulates the senses while eating. For standing Christmas receptions of 100-320 guests, sliders and skewers including classic pigs in blankets will be served. Seated dinners for 60-120 guests will see a whole roasted duck served ‘family style’ at the table to encourage friendly interaction.