Your Local Guide to Planning the Office Christmas Party
So the email has landed and the work Christmas do is yours to organise. Congratulations, and a little sympathy.
Planning a festive get together means juggling budgets, diaries, dietary needs and a dozen different ideas of what makes a good night out. The good news is that Brighton, Hove and Sussex are brimming with brilliant choices, from candlelit private dining rooms and cosy Sussex country pubs to glittering hotel ballrooms and seafront igloo party nights with a DJ spinning until late.
As a local, family owned guide that has been eating its way around the city since 2012, we know which venues are worth your team’s night out.
Start With Your Group, Not the Venue
Before you scroll through a single menu, ask a few simple questions.
- How many people are coming?
- What is the budget per head?
- Is this a leisurely sit down feast, a drinks led evening, or a bit of both?
- Who needs looking after, whether that is a colleague with a nut allergy, a vegan, or someone who uses a wheelchair?
A small team of five to ten may prefer something intimate. Petit Pois, the charming French bistro, welcomes festive tables of up to six, while Il Bistro has two cosy upstairs function rooms seating ten and sixteen inside an eighteenth century fisherman’s cottage. Larger crowds need room to spread out, and venues such as Shelter Hall on the seafront or the American Express Stadium can host hundreds.
Seated Dinner or Standing Party?
This one decision shapes everything else. A seated Christmas dinner feels celebratory and gives everyone a proper meal, but it fixes numbers and seating plans. A standing party with canapés, bowl food and sharing platters encourages mingling and usually squeezes more people into the same space. The North Star, beside the Royal Pavilion, shows how flexible this can be, with its private Pavilion Room seating 26 guests or welcoming up to 50 standing. Ask each venue about both formats before you commit.
Which Type of Christmas Party Suits Your Team?
The Traditional Festive Feast
Turkey and all the trimmings, crackers, paper hats and a glass of fizz on arrival. If that sounds like heaven, a classic pub Christmas is hard to beat. The Dorset in Brighton’s North Laine, The Cricketers in Brighton with their Greene Room and The Hartington in Hanover all serve hearty festive menus beside crackling open fires, and our Pubs with Fires page has plenty more.
The Hotel Christmas Party
The big hotels are the one stop shop of the festive season. Because they have space, they can offer a pre party drinks area, private rooms in a range of sizes, a dining room or ballroom for the main event, and somewhere to carry on dancing afterwards, often with rooms upstairs at a discounted rate. The DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole hosts glittering party nights with a DJ alongside private packages, The Grand hosts shared celebrations in its elegant Empress Suite, Hotel du Vin offers festive dining, private spaces and overnight stays, and Malmaison Brighton at Brighton Marina runs join a party nights and private dining. Further afield, Terra at Tottington Manor pairs countryside views with AA Rosette cooking, and The White Horses in Rottingdean brings festive cheer by the sea. We are visiting Hotel du Vin very soon to sample their 2026 Christmas party package, so keep an eye on the Restaurants Brighton Instagram to see how we got on. You may also like our Boutique Hotels page which is well worth a browse.
The Shared Party Night
Joiner parties bring several groups together for one big celebration. Because the costs are shared, your ticket often includes dinner, wine and dancing, something that would cost a small fortune to arrange privately. Alongside the hotel party nights, OHSO Social hosts lively shared evenings right on the beach, and the Amex Stadium stages festive party nights with live entertainment.
Book an Award Winner
Sometimes the team deserves something special. In the 2026 BRAVO Awards, decided by around 72,000 public votes, Terre à Terre was named Brighton’s best restaurant, so go and see what all the fuss is about with its inventive vegetarian and vegan Christmas menus. Kindling in The Lanes was voted Brighton’s best lunch venue, making it a superb choice for a festive work lunch built around charcoal cooking and a sustainable ethos. Fourth and Church in Hove, frequently voted among the best wine lists in the city, offers seasonal set lunches, a candlelit setting and a downstairs private dining room. Browse our Best Restaurants in Brighton page for more winners, or book a tasting menu at etch. in Hove or Dilsk at Drakes on Marine Parade for a truly memorable evening.
A Taste of Somewhere Else
Plenty of people would happily avoid another plate of turkey. Nostos in Hove brings Greek flair to Christmas with dishes such as feather blade sofrito and grilled sea bream, Dishoom Permit Room offers a Party Spread for those who fancy something less Christmassy, and Il Bistro and Al Duomo bring Mediterranean warmth to the table.
Asian Restaurants for Big Groups and Dietary Needs
Our Asian Restaurants page is a brilliant place to start if your group has a mix of dietary requirements. Sharing menus, generous plant based choices and kitchens used to handling allergens make these venues a smart pick for large parties. Bonsai Plant Kitchen, a fully vegan favourite voted highly in the BRAVO Awards year after year, serves a festive menu with crispy sprouts and miso glazed aubergine. Moshimo offers vegan options across every course of its sushi boat feast, The Chilli Pickle has a dedicated vegetarian festive menu, and Mowgli serves its street food in tiffin towers beneath twinkling lights.
Drinks First, Food as You Go
Not every celebration needs three courses. A gang of mates who simply want plenty of drinks and something tasty to soak them up might prefer a buffet, bowl food or pizza. Starfish and Coffee offers a festive pizza and buffet spread, Hove Place has a generous festive buffet for larger groups, Sea Lanes serves a retro Christmas buffet, and Fatto a Mano has a pizza, side and drink deal for groups. Our Christmas Drinks and Bottomless Brunches pages are packed with further inspiration.
Celebrate at the Office, or on the Beach
Who says the party has to leave the building? Order ahead from Open Bakery in Kemptown for festive cakes, bakes and treats to share at your desks, or wrap up warm and take them down to the beach for a bracing winter picnic. Kernel Canteen can deliver to your office too, turning a meeting room into a festive feast with no travel required. It is a thoughtful option for teams with caring responsibilities or long commutes.
Something a Little Different
Why not cook together at Brighton Community Kitchen, feast by firelight with Woodfire Camping on the Firle Estate, or pair dinner with a pantomime or festive show? For a cooler finish, Deep Dive Bar, the newest jazz bar in Kemptown Village, makes a stylish final stop.
Our Things to do in Brighton, December edition will spark plenty of ideas, plus our Brighton weekly events guide gives you ideas for what to do in Brighton.
Where to Go Before and After
A great Christmas party often happens in three acts. Bar 50ml in North Laine is perfect for an after work meet up, with exceptional Italian influenced festive cocktails and room for groups of up to 20. Blossoms in The Lanes pairs award winning cocktails with Japanese inspired sharing dishes, and its Crimson Koi Room hosts private parties of up to 30.
Bohemia covers every stage of the night, with set menus, elegant canapés and festive buffets showcasing Sussex produce, before the space settles into a lively cocktail lounge after dark. Explore our Bars in Brighton and Brighton Nightlife pages to plan the rest of the evening.
When Should You Book Your Christmas Party?
The most sought after dates are Thursdays and Fridays from late November through to mid December, and these often fill up by early autumn. If you have your heart set on one, book as soon as possible. Flexible teams will find better availability and value on Monday to Wednesday evenings, or at a Friday or Saturday lunch.
Keep an eye out for early bird offers too, as some venues add complimentary fizz or discounts for bookings made before a set date. Expect deposits and advance menu orders to be standard.
How Much Does a Christmas Party Cost in Brighton?
Most Christmas party menus in Brighton and Hove cost between £25 and £65 per person, with drinks on top. Shared party nights that include dinner, wine and dancing typically cost from around £75. Here is how the budget usually breaks down.
Under £30 per Person
Brighton is wonderfully generous at the value end. Donatello in The Lanes serves three festive courses for £22, Hove Place offers a festive buffet from £24.95 per person for groups of 15 or more, and Starfish and Coffee’s pizza and buffet party menu is £29.95 with Prosecco on arrival. The Dorset starts at £26.95 for two courses, including a welcome drink.
£30 to £45 per Person
This is where most pub and restaurant Christmas menus sit. The Hartington charges £30 with a glass of fizz and a cracker, Fatto a Mano offers pizza, a side and a drink for £30 for groups of 11 or more, and Bonsai Plant Kitchen’s vegan festive menu is also £30. The Plough Inn in Rottingdean serves three courses for £35, The North Star starts at £39 and Mowgli’s Festive Feasting Menu is £40. Terre à Terre and Carne both sit at £45.
£45 to £65 per Person
For a bigger treat, English’s of Brighton charges £48 for three courses with a welcome Prosecco, while Mange Tout and Lost in the Lanes are both £50. Nostos is £54, or £60 with a glass of wine. Furna is £55 for three courses, and the Festive Tasting Menu at Dilsk is £65, with an optional wine flight for £55 more.
Shared Party Nights
Joiner nights often offer the best value for a full night out, because entertainment is included. Places at The Grand’s shared party nights cost £75.75, covering three courses, coffee, half a bottle of wine per person and dancing until 12.30am.
Extra Costs to Budget For
Allow for drinks, which can easily match the cost of the food, as well as any discretionary service charge, taxis or a minibus home, and accommodation if your team is staying over. Most venues ask for a deposit when you book, often around £10 per person, plus an advance menu order. Lunchtime and early week bookings are usually the simplest way to stretch a budget further.
Prices were correct at the time of writing. Always check with the venue before booking, and see our Christmas Party Brighton Guide for the latest menus.
Where Should Your Christmas Party Be?
Most of Brighton and Hove is walkable, and both Brighton and Hove stations are well connected, with buses and taxis running late. A central spot in The Lanes or North Laine keeps the evening flexible if people want to carry on for drinks afterwards, while our Brighton Seafront Restaurants page brings sea views into the mix.
Parking in the city centre is limited, so if your team is driving in, consider venues with easier parking such as Brighton Marina or the Amex. For a country escape, Pubs in Sussex like The Jolly Sportsman in East Chiltington, The Eight Bells in Jevington or The New Inn in Hurstpierpoint offer roaring fires and rural charm. Just remember to book a minibus or nominate your drivers.
Access, Allergies and Dietary Requirements
Gather everyone’s requirements early and share them with the venue in good time. Ask about step free access, accessible toilets and how the kitchen handles allergens. Our Wheelchair Access, Gluten Free, Nut Allergies and Vegan Restaurants pages are a helpful starting point, and the Amex team are trained Allergy Champions.
Choose Local and Support Independent
As an independent, family owned guide ourselves, this one is close to our hearts. December is a make or break month for hospitality, and choosing an independent venue keeps your money in the local economy. If your business cares about sustainability, look for kitchens championing Sussex ingredients, and explore our Sustainability Champions and Sussex Suppliers pages.
There is also a lot to be said for loyalty. Returning to a favourite local boozer year after year, where the team knows your name, can make the night feel wonderfully personal.
A Different Idea: Give a Restaurants Brighton Gift Voucher
If diaries simply will not align, or you would rather give people the freedom to choose, a Restaurants Brighton gift voucher makes a brilliant Christmas present for staff, clients or friends. Recipients can spend it at around 40 independent venues across the city, choosing the restaurant, pub or café that suits them. Better still, they can use it in January or February, when the rush has passed, tables are easier to come by and a treat is most welcome.
It is a thoughtful corporate gift that supports local hospitality long after the decorations come down.
Your Next Steps for Booking a Christmas Party
Start by exploring our Christmas Party Brighton Guide, which gathers all the festive options across Brighton, Hove and Sussex in one place, complete with menus, prices, capacities and contact details. We have shared plenty of examples here, but we cannot feature everyone, and new Christmas menus are arriving thick and fast, so keep checking the guide for updates.
Draw up a shortlist, then pick up the phone and speak to the venues directly. Better still, pop in for a drink, meet the events team and see the space for yourself. Be proactive, think about what your business and your group truly need, and lock in your date before the diaries fill.
Ask the Restaurants Brighton Local Experts
Still not sure where to start? Our team of local food experts and writers has spent well over a decade exploring Brighton, Hove and Sussex, and we love nothing more than matching the right group with the right venue. Get in touch with the Restaurants Brighton team with your numbers, budget and wish list, and we will happily point you in the right direction.
Q
&
A
Book as early as you can, ideally in September or October. Thursday and Friday evenings from late November to mid December are the most popular slots and are often the first to sell out.
Choosing a Monday to Wednesday, a lunchtime booking, a shared party night or a buffet menu will usually stretch the budget further. Early bird offers and set menus also help keep costs predictable.
The larger hotels, including the Brighton Metropole, The Grand, Hotel du Vin and Malmaison, typically offer drinks areas, private rooms of different sizes, dining and dancing in one place, with accommodation available.
Terre à Terre, voted Best Restaurant in Brighton at the 2026 BRAVO Awards, and Bonsai Plant Kitchen are excellent for mixed dietary needs, as are many of the city’s Asian restaurants. Always share requirements with the venue in advance.
Yes. Order festive treats ahead from Open Bakery, arrange office delivery from Kernel Canteen, or give a Restaurants Brighton gift voucher so colleagues can celebrate in the new year.
Restaurants Brighton is a local, family owned food and drink guide founded in 2011. It is written by a team of food writers who live in the city and visit venues across Brighton, Hove and Sussex. It also runs the BRAVO Awards, the public-voted food and drink awards for Brighton and Sussex, which received more than 71,000 votes in 2026.
