The Lowdown: lockdown Christmas parties
Oh god, we’re not talking about Christmas-themed quizzes over Zoom are we?
Absolutely not. Being forced to wear a novelty jumper and be asked questions about Santa’s reeindeer from Gavin in IT in a turkey hat in the name of Christmas celebrations might be some businesses’ idea of festive fun, but not for us.
What then? Christmas parties could be a bit tricky for a lot of people this year…
Indeed, which is why restaurants are thinking outside the box in case the current lockdown extends beyond 2 December or they have to deal with restrictions such as a limit on the number of households meeting or curfews. Take Feast It, for example, a virtual event platform that has developed cookalong sessions for teams and can bring a staff Christmas dinner to your office.
OK, so this sounds pretty good
Some great names have already signed up to help get the party started, including Pizza Pilgrims, which will bring a chef to your office to lead a pizza making masterclass, and The Cheese Truck, where teams can sample cheeses and wines while a master cheesemonger leads a virtual tasting. Feast It says it can even organise wreath making or cooking a three-course menu from scratch for people who fancy rolling up their sleeves and rattling the pots and pans, with it sending all the ingredients in advance before people join online together and cook. E-commerce site Restaurant Kits is also helping businesses looking to virtually host an office Christmas party this year with live cook-alongs are available, which are free for orders of more than 100 kits. Restaurant chefs such as Andy Waugh from Mac & Wild, Tom Griffiths from Flank and James Cochran from Around The Cluck are on hand take groups through their chosen recipes. London-based office food delivery service City Pantry, meanwhile, says it is doing Christmas cupcake decorating and mulled wine making kits for office parties.
This could be hard work
It doesn’t have to be. If eating is more your thing, then this is also covered. City-based Indian restaurant Brigadiers, for example, will come to your office and set-up and Indian banquet for your office party, or if you want everything taken care of, it can offer a sit-down dinner with a chef and waiter at your service. If a cocktail party is more your thing then companies can come in and serve canapes and drinks or even host mixology lessons - which is a step up from a quick dash to M&S for some prawn sandwiches and prosecco. City Pantry, which works with brands such as Patty & Bun, Gail’s and Homeslice, will also continue to deliver to offices for the Christmas party season.
Ok, I'm sold. It's not quite the same though, is it?
We hear you. But there are some plus sides to a socially distanced office party, not least the fact that you won't wake up the following day with the feeling of embarrassment or self loathing for having done something really stupid in front of your colleagues - unless you really go for it.
