Simply, the earlier the better. Now, we’re not saying you need to wake up groggily on the 26th of December and start drafting a secret Santa employee map (unless you really want to). But the truth is the best Bristol Christmas party venues will start to take bookings well before the festive season starts in earnest: we recommend starting your search towards the end of summer, no matter how wrong it feels, and that way you’ll ensure you’re on the venue-booking good list.

Towards the lower end of the budget, you can expect some drinks and finger foods – think sausage rolls and carrot sticks. Let’s be honest, though, most Bristol Christmas party venues can do better than that, and you deserve better. Ask the venue if they have a festive menu – lots of venues will get creative with their festive bites, and it can really make your Xmas bash stand out. Top tip: Don’t forget to ask about the entertainment involved in the Christmas package. Long gone are the days of the depressing Christmas DJ (almost always someone’s uncle), and now you can expect a lot more when it comes to getting the party truly started.

The all-important question. The importance of the Christmas party can often feel like a mammoth task. Fortunately, most venues will do a lot of the heavy lifting and offer packages and planning assistance. That said, there is a way to get exactly what you want and not spend all your time mired by the details. Just tell us exactly what your perfect Christmas party looks like, and we’ll make sure the best Bristol venues reach out to you. That way, you can focus on the important things, like mince pies.

For Christmas party nights in Bristol, you're spoilt for choice. Here are a few extra special Christmas party venues that we vouch for:

The Restaurant, Clifton Lido – For a Christmas poolside dinner, visit this historic Bristol venue.

Havana Lounge, Revolución de Cuba Bristol – Enjoy a Cuban-inspired Christmas menu at this stylish Bristol bar and restaurant.

There really is no one answer to this question: so many variables come into play when understanding the cost of exclusive hire of a Christmas party venue. How many guests are you planning for? Is the venue for the day, an afternoon, or the night? The good news is that you can find a venue for pretty much any budget (okay, almost any budget). Instead of letting the venue dictate the price, our advice is to be proactive and set a budget that you feel comfortable with – this way the right venues can reach out to you through HeadBox.