Christmas Party Drinks Guide
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Office Christmas Party Drinks Guide (2025): Menus, Batching & Bar‑Hire Costs
A practical, UK‑focused playbook to keep queues down and spirits high — with proven menus, coffee & mocktail stations, and trusted bar‑hire partners in London & Surrey.
1) Best Crowd‑Pleasing Christmas Cocktail Menus
Keep it to 3–4 signatures plus a batched classic. Rotate in a spritz and a winter sour. For weddings & receptions see wedding bar hire.
Festive Signatures
- Spiced Old Fashioned (orange, cinnamon)
- Winter Spritz (Prosecco, bitter orange) – try a Hugo twist
- Cranberry Margarita (lime, sea salt)
- Espresso Martini – pair with a coffee bike
Non‑Alcoholic Heroes
- Ginger & Pomegranate Spritz
- Spiced Apple Fizz
- Festive Hot Chocolate Bar (vegan options)
See coffee & cocoa bars and iced coffee.
Reception Classics (Batch‑friendly)
- French 75 welcome
- Negroni Sbagliato pitchers
- Pimm’s Winter Cup – from a Pimm’s bike
2) Batching & Throughput: How to Avoid Queues
For 100 guests, target 150–200 drinks/hour across two bartenders + one back‑bar assistant, pre‑batching base mixes in 5L cambros. For staffing, see bartender hire London or Surrey.
| Guest Count | Service Window | Target Drinks | Recommended Crew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 2 hrs | 120–160 | 1 mixologist + 1 support |
| 100 | 3 hrs | 250–350 | 2 mixologists + 1–2 support |
| 200 | 3–4 hrs | 500–700 | 4 bartenders + 2–3 support |
Need exact quantities? See our Mobile Bar Hire London Guide and this handy house party calculator.
3) Real‑World Bar‑Hire Pricing (Guidance)
All‑Inclusive Cocktail Bar
- Bar, staff, glassware, ice, ingredients
- 3–4 signature serves
- From £1,100–£1,600 for ~50 guests (3 hrs)
Coffee & Hot Chocolate Station
- 2 baristas, specialty beans
- Branded cups available
- From £650–£1,200 (2–3 hrs)
Dry Hire + Shopping List
- Staff & bar only; you supply alcohol
- Perfect for offices
- From £400–£900 + stock
For weddings & private homes, compare wedding packages or Surrey wedding options.
4) Coffee, Cocoa & Mocktail Stations That Win Winter
Add a high‑throughput coffee cart to fuel arrivals and late‑night guests. Explore coffee bike hire,
mobile coffee bars, and conference bars. For exhibitions, see this exhibition coffee guide.
5) Bar Setups That Work in Offices
Compact Pop‑Up Bar
Great for reception areas; bring your own glassware or hire complete. Try Surrey or house party bartender.
Workshop / Team Social
Book a cocktail class (also team building & hen parties).
Case Studies, Reels & Reads
Inspo & Social
Also see: London office parties • Pimm’s bikes • Corporate mobile bars
Useful Resources & Internal Links
Mobile Bar Hire Surrey
Hire a Bartender London
Pimm’s Bar Hire
Aperol Spritz Bar Hire
Milkshake Bar Hire
Hire A Cocktail Bartender (Home)
Mobile Bar Hire London
Coffee Bar Hire London
Hire A Private Bartender (Home)
House Party Bartender
Aperol Spritz Bar
Mixology Insider (Home)
About
Mobile Bar Hire London Guide
FAQ: Office Christmas Party Drinks
How many drinks per person?
Plan 2 drinks in the first hour, then 1 per hour after. For 3 hours, budget 4 drinks pp. Adjust down if adding coffee or food.
Do we need a licence?
Most office events are covered by your venue’s premises licence. If not, your supplier can arrange a TEN. Ask via corporate events.
What about glassware & ice?
Full‑service packages include both. Dry hire options available if you already have stock. Compare staff‑only vs all‑inclusive.
