If you're planning a Christmas party for 100, 200, 300, or even 500 guests, a private boat on the Thames gives you the chance to make the venue part of the event. With more than 20 piers across central London, we can help you find a convenient boarding point before setting off along the river.

Our bespoke, all-inclusive Christmas party packages start from approximately £7,000 and can include everything you need for the event, from exclusive use of the boat, event management, and its crew to pier landing fees, festive catering, and drinks. We can also arrange AV, branding, entertainment, and other production requirements depending on what you have in mind.

Because the boat is exclusively yours, you won't share the space with other groups or work around a public timetable. We'll consider your guest numbers, the type of party you're planning, and the experience you want to create, then recommend the right vessel and package for your event.

In this guide, we'll look at how our Christmas party boats work for larger groups, what you can include in your package, and how far in advance you should start planning.

Why a private Thames charter works for a corporate Christmas party

One of the great things about having your Christmas party on a private boat is that the whole event is yours. You won't share the space with another company, and you can plan the event around your guests, timing, and plans.

Your guests can board at one of more than 20 central London piers, then enjoy the event on the Thames, with heated indoor spaces for dining, drinks, and entertainment, plus outdoor decks.

There are a few other reasons a private boat can work particularly well for a Christmas party:

• Your own space: Your group has the whole vessel, so you can enjoy the evening without sharing the bar, dining areas, or entertainment space with other parties.
• A memorable setting: London looks particularly good from the Thames, with the city lights, illuminated bridges, and skyline providing a backdrop throughout the evening.
• Indoor and outdoor spaces: The heated indoor areas with large windows mean you can stay warm and comfortable, while the outdoor decks give guests the chance to head outside and enjoy the views.
• Room for larger groups: Our portfolio can accommodate corporate Christmas parties of up to 500 guests, with different vessels and layouts on suit the size and style of your event.
• One team to manage the event: We will coordinate the vessel, staff, catering, drinks, event management, entertainment, and production, so you don't have to manage multiple suppliers yourself.

If you're planning a Christmas party for a larger group, explore our corporate hospitality options on the Thames to see how we can help you put the evening together.

Choosing the right format for your guest count

One of the first things we'll need to know when you're planning a Christmas party is how many guests you're expecting. This helps us narrow down the vessels that will work for your group, but we'll also consider the type of party you're planning, how you'd like to use the boat, and the food and entertainment you have in mind.

As a starting point, the table below gives you an idea of the types of Christmas parties that can work well for different group sizes:

100 to 150 guests: Seated dinner or drinks reception

With 100 to 150 guests, you have plenty of options for how you want your Christmas party to work. A seated three-course dinner with drinks, speeches, and entertainment can work well, or you might prefer a more relaxed standing reception with canapés and bowl food. We'll look at the space you need and the type of evening you have in mind when recommending a vessel.

150 to 200 guests: Bowl food or a more relaxed reception

For a group of this size, bowl food can be a good alternative to a formal seated dinner. Guests can eat while standing or sitting, which gives them more freedom to move around, chat, and enjoy the different parts of the boat. You can also combine this with a drinks reception, entertainment, and dancing, depending on how you want the evening to work. There's no need to settle on the format before you get in touch; we can talk through the options with you.

200 to 300 guests: Room to spread out

With 200 to 300 guests, the layout of the boat becomes particularly important. You might want a dedicated area for food and drinks, somewhere for entertainment and dancing, and an outdoor deck where guests can take in the views. A standing reception can work particularly well at this size, but other formats are possible too. We'll help you plan how to use the space and suggest vessels that give your guests enough room to move around comfortably.

300 to 500 guests: Larger Christmas celebrations

For larger parties of 300 to 500 guests, we offer a vessel option designed to accommodate bigger groups, with different layouts and spaces depending on the event. At this size, it's particularly important to think about how guests will arrive, where they'll eat and drink, and how the different parts of the evening will fit together. We'll help you plan the layout, catering, and timings so everything works smoothly on the night.

If you're planning a larger Christmas party, it's worth getting in touch early, particularly if you have a specific date in mind in December. Explore our vessel portfolio to see the different capacities and layouts available.

Festive catering, drinks, and entertainment

Food, drinks, and entertainment are a big part of any Christmas party, so we'll work with you to create something that suits the event you're planning. There isn't a fixed Christmas menu that everyone has to choose from. Our catering can be adapted to your guest numbers, timings, budget, and the style of your event.

Festive catering options

For December events, you could choose from options including:

• Canapés on arrival: Give your guests something to eat as soon as they come on board, with seasonal canapés alongside drinks such as mulled wine or sparkling wine.
• Bowl food: A relaxed option that works particularly well for standing receptions. Guests can enjoy more substantial dishes without needing to sit down for a formal meal.
• Buffet: A sociable, flexible option, especially for larger groups or events where guests can eat at their own pace.
• Three-course dinner: If you're looking for something more formal, we can arrange a seated dinner with full table service. This can work particularly well for groups of around 100 to 150 guests.
• Late-night food: If your party is going on into the evening, you can add some food later on. Warm, comforting dishes are a great way to keep everyone going once the dancing has started.

We can also take care of dietary requirements and preferences, and we'll agree the menu with you as part of the planning process.

Drinks packages and bar arrangements

There are a few different ways you can arrange drinks for your Christmas party, depending on what suits your guests and your budget:

• Pre-agreed drinks package: Choose a set selection of wine, beer, soft drinks, and seasonal drinks such as mulled wine or cocktails, with everything agreed in advance.
• Managed bar: If you'd prefer a more flexible arrangement, we can discuss a managed bar and agree how you'd like this to work as part of your package.
• Drinks on arrival: Start the evening with something ready for guests as they board, whether that's mulled wine, sparkling wine, or a cocktail created for your event.

We'll agree your drinks arrangements with you before the event, so you know what's included and what you're spending.

Entertainment, AV, and branding

Because the boat is yours for the evening, you can make the entertainment and production part of the event. Depending on the vessel and your plans, our brilliant events department will arrange everything from live music and DJs to AV for speeches, awards, and presentations.

Options can include:

• Live music and DJs: From live bands and acoustic performances to a DJ for the later part of the evening.
• Staging and theming: Branded staging, festive theming, and custom décor to help create the right atmosphere on board.
• AV and sound: Selected vessels can accommodate smart TVs, projectors, microphones, PA, and sound equipment for speeches, awards, and presentations.
• Branding: Flags, banners, press boards, and other branded elements can be incorporated into the styling of the boat.

If you already have an idea of the entertainment or production you'd like, tell us when you enquire. If you're not sure what will work on board, we can talk through the options with you and recommend the right setup for your event. AV facilities vary from vessel to vessel, so let us know any technical requirements at the start so we can recommend a boat with everything you need.

When to book your Christmas party

December is a busy time for corporate events on the Thames, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings. If you have a specific date in mind, contact us as early as possible, especially if you're bringing a larger group and need one of the bigger vessels.

As a rough guide:

• 100 to 150 guests: You'll have more options if you can be flexible with your date, particularly if you're considering a mid-week evening.
• 150 to 300 guests: Start your search in September or October if you have a specific December date in mind.
• 300 to 500 guests: For larger groups, it's worth contacting us earlier in the year. Fewer vessels can accommodate these numbers, so your date options may become more limited as December approaches.

If your first-choice date isn't available, don't assume the options are gone. We can look at other December dates, late November, or mid-week evenings, which can give you more flexibility while still giving you the Christmas party you're looking for.

Christmas parties and the December weather

December in London can be cold and wet, but that doesn't mean your Christmas party has to stay indoors on land. Our vessels have heated indoor spaces with large windows where guests can eat, drink, and enjoy the entertainment, plus outdoor decks with lounge seats and blankets for enjoying the views.

You can make the most of both. Guests might head outside to take in the London skyline and illuminated bridges from the Thames, then return inside when it gets cold or the weather changes. The indoor spaces remain the main setting for the event, so you won't have to rely on the weather for the party to work.

We'll also discuss boarding arrangements with you as part of the planning process. If you or any of your guests have mobility or step-free access requirements, let us know when you build your event brief. Pier access can vary depending on the vessel and the tide, so we'll ensure the arrangements suit your group.