Venue Name:
Christmas Social
Category
BEST VENUE TRANSFORMATION
Video Link
Venue Overview (Max 300 words)

Christmas Social takes place at Shoreditch Town Hall - a venue that’s as versatile as it is iconic. We chose it most notably for its location, its character, and to support our local community.
Its central London location and excellent transport links made it a strong choice, being so convenient for our city-based clients. It’s also within walking distance from our office which means we can offer clients last minute site visits.
We wanted a venue that would be a blank canvas to make our own, but one with its own character which we could build on, and its own architectural décor that we could enhance. Shoreditch Town Hall is a Grade II listed building which is rich in history and can accommodate large numbers whilst maintaining an intimate atmosphere. It fit the bill perfectly for a glamorous space that we could play on the grandeur of the venue whilst putting our creative stamp on it.
As a cultural and community centre, it’s typically used for a variety of programmes and events - from corporate parties and conferences to musical theatre rehearsals. Supporting our local community was key for us. Giving back to a charity alongside a venue team that were as passionate as us to create something collaborative and memorable made this the perfect partnership.
Our inherent adaptability made it possible to reinvent the space to build something together that the venue had never seen before. Its neutral palette served as the perfect backdrop for our creative vision, allowing lighting, disco balls and bespoke installations to take center stage. The venue’s existing facilities, including robust AV capabilities and versatile spaces provided a solid foundation for a seamless transformation.
The set-up is big and bold, and it was not what guests were expecting when they walked in...

Creativity & Theme (Max 300 words)

With a collective 50+ years of experience in the events world amongst our team, we’ve really seen what works and what doesn’t. We’ve seen the same themes and dissected guest feedback to genuinely listen to what our clients really want - an informal atmosphere at a venue that lends itself to getting glammed up. We've crafted our uniquely blended packages with our guests in mind: think laid-back luxury - a night that’s effortlessly stylish. Forget the overdone clichés, we were passionate about bringing something different - a blend of the elegance and glamour from the 20s with the modern vibrancy of the 70s disco. All your favourite parts of events, with our added sparkle to create a fresh experience. Christmas Social is informal, yet glamorous, and we’ve purposefully designed a room that gets you dancing.
Setting the tone from the first step with guests being greeted by disco ball head dancers, wayfinding signs which read ‘follow the call of the disco ball’, and big bold feather plinths in the entrance, guests are already enthralled into the world.

We’re obsessive with making every detail considered, themed and cohesive - from when guests enter the room they will be dazzled by the the spinning disco balls over the starlit dancefloor matched by the hand-built disco ball DJ booth installation, 20s flapper girls video on screen, disco ball ice buckets, down to the themed staff aprons and menus.
The carefully selected velvet lounge furniture is not only thought about from a design perspective, but we are meticulous in its placement to create a layout that works to maximise guest flow.
At Christmas Social, the more sparkle, the better. The drinks are flowing, the casino tables are rolling, the dress-up props are calling you at the photobooth, and the dancefloor is full by 9pm.

Atmosphere & Experience (Max 300 words)

The success of our transformation is evident when we watch our guests' faces entering the room. Especially for our clients who viewed the venue empty - it’s now unrecognisable.
We tell a story through lighting. Guests spot Shoreditch Town Hall from down the road - beaming at them with its uplit pillars, inviting them through the entrance hall with an amber and pink mood, branded lightboxes and warm festoon lighting. The upbeat jazz music and dancers help set the scene whilst directing guests to the main event space.
We not only designed the room physically to encourage dancing through sound, lighting, a starlit dancefloor and disco balls, but through the way we cater with tray-served street food, the layout of the room (including a central mirrored bar), and our attention to detail with theming.
When guests enter the main space, the combination of the way the light catches the multiple large disco balls, the twinkle of the dancefloor and DJ booth, the flapper dancers on screen, and the invitation to dress up in props, before guests can grab their cocktail they’ll already be tapping their feet. Our resident DJ who we've trusted for years reads the room and understands each client’s vibe - which is why our guests will always comment on the full dancefloor.
With plenty of furniture, a vintage photobooth with a bespoke disco ball backdrop, 2 x casino tables to keep your guests entertained all night, a beautiful bar, and a whole host of optional add-on entertainment pieces, guests will be enthralled with what to do first. We’ve added a secret lounge space for larger numbers, with an additional bar and cosy atmosphere, for guests who’d prefer to chat and chill than dance. Better yet, they can flit between and know that there’s something for everyone.

Food & Beverage (Max 300 words)

Working with our trusted catering partner of 10+ years, KERB, to build something that’s different to their typical offering, we provide something bespoke that isn’t offered at their other venues. Our street-food is tray-served - not the norm, but at Christmas Social - it works. We listened to guest feedback wanting variety that also caters meaningfully to dietary requirements, wanting hearty food that’s festive, unique and high-quality. And that’s what we deliver.
We tray-serve the street food to elevate it and make you feel wined and dined, also lending itself to wider variety and better guest interaction - the best of both worlds. We also reinvented the wheel to offer canape options by a street food company - something guests are pleasantly surprised by!
The Christmas Social experience starts months before your event - at a group tasting where guests try our best traders, whilst selecting their festive cocktails and being serenaded by a jazz singer.
Guests select 3 x traders for their event - from gravy-dipped turkey dinner toasties, to savoury waffles and bao buns. We’ve even got Christmas flavoured pizzas for late night snacks to balance out the unlimited drinks package. The immersive element of the independent food traders brings love and individuality to each dish, maintaining the opportunity to personalise their dishes at our food stations - so anyone with a dietary requirement feels cared for!
Guests are welcomed to their event with a choice of festive cocktails or mocktails, which is accompanied by an extensive all-inclusive package of beers, wines, softs, prosecco, and a non-alcoholic alternative for each. We’re so proud of its inclusivity policy where every guest feels equally considered in terms of experience, choice and exciting options. We were one of the first in the industry to adopt this trend, listening to our clients.

Event Management & Service (Max 300 words)

Delivering the Christmas Social transformation required meticulous planning, coordination, and execution. From initial concept to final guest departure, our team managed every stage of the project with precision and attention to detail.
The complicated logistics of working in a listed building meant the build phase involved synchronising 9 x different suppliers in a small lift (extra time for dismantling the casino tables!) Detailed timelines, schedules and floor plans ensured each installation was completed with precision, with contingency measures in place for any unforeseen challenges.
The beauty of the project is taking over the space for the 3-week run, so after load-in every event is ready to go. The commitment to the pre-planning phase ensures a seamless execution. The project is also designed so clients can put their own stamp on it with optional upgrades for additional sparkle which we manage.

We’re able to offer an impressive production and theming package with the cost spread out across multiple events - which means amazing value for money - avoiding install, delivery and collection costs as well as splitting the cost of the high-value items and volume of detail.

Staffing and service were integral to the seamless delivery. A dedicated event management team oversaw operations, coordinating front-of-house, security, and catering staff to maintain smooth guest flow. Briefings ensured all team members understood the layout, schedule, and guest experience priorities, allowing for confident and consistent service throughout the run.
What clients appreciated most about the package is not needing to lift a finger - everything was planned and executed for them. We strived to create not only an amazing on-the-day experience, but a memorable planning experience where clients can hand over the reins and trust in the process. That feeling of trust we give our clients is priceless.

Sustainability & Responsibility (Max 200 words)

Sustainability was embedded throughout the Christmas Social transformation. We prioritised reusable, recyclable, and responsibly sourced materials wherever possible. Most of our decor is stored in the venue from the previous year and reused (with refreshes where needed!) We also make use of what we have in the office before buying new - including all our small disco balls which we used in vases as table centerpieces, gold plinths from previous events to display the feather vases, and cushions from our Shoreditch Gardens summer project down the road - just need to switch the covers! Our catering partner, KERB, believes great food should have a positive impact – not just on taste buds but on the planet too. That’s why they are committed to locally sourced ingredients, reducing food waste through careful portion control, recyclable or biodegradable packaging, vegetarian/vegan options on every menu, and working with partners who share their vision. Their efforts ensure that all our events support local suppliers (evident through their chosen wine, beer and spirit brands), and minimise carbon footprints. We use our events experience to guide clients through previous data on guest count, knowing we can rely on a 10% drop-off rate, and so under-confirming catering-wise to minimise waste.
Installing once for the run to host 6-11 events saves massively on transport emissions - compared with multiple suppliers delivering and collecting for each event. Additionally, we only need crew for load-in and load-out, saving more holistically on staffing footprints too.
Sustainability was at the forefront of our decision in the selection of Shoreditch Town Hall as a venue - as our office is a 10-minute walk away. This not only makes set-up and installation easier, more efficient and more sustainable, but that site visits and meetings throughout the year are only a short walk away!

Why You Should Win (Max 300 words)

Christmas Social stands out for its ability to combine creativity with operational excellence, our commitment to take on client feedback and use this as a tool to create new experiences, our ability for relationship building, and our genuine passion and investment that shines throughout. Our unique catering approach of authentic tray-served street food is a style that sets us apart and is hugely popular with guests.

We benefit from a unique 360-perspective from years of team experience. This insight allows us to fully understand what clients are looking for and ensure we consistently deliver it.
Relationship-building is at the core of what we do. We take pride in befriending our clients and delivering exceptional events whilst making the experience enjoyable and stress-free throughout. Our strong supplier relationships enable us to negotiate the best rates, build trust, and create flexibility for problem-solving. We know our events will be seamless because of the time we’ve invested in every person involved who’s committed to doing so.

We hold ourselves and our suppliers to exceptionally high standards and choose not to work with partners who do not meet them, which is what enables us to consistently deliver excellence. We go above and beyond, adapting as each event happens to pivot and tweak the smallest things - constantly on the look out for what could make this event better. As a team, we definitely know how to party, so we know what distinguishes a good one from an excellent one. And we all genuinely care.

Christmas Social sets the standard for venue transformation through a complete 360 offering. We deliver experiences that guests actually want to attend. To date, we’ve achieved 100% positive feedback rate, with rebooking enquiries flooding in. We aim to sell out again by Feb like we did in 2024 & 2025!